Cyperaceae

Abildgaardia Vahl

First published in Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 296 (1805)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropics & Subtropics.

Descriptions

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Morphology General Habit
Annuals or perennials
Morphology Culms
Culms scapose
Morphology Leaves
Leaves eligulate, sometimes reduced to sheaths.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheath margins glabrous or spiny
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Involucral bracts leafy or glume-like
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a head of congested spikelets or reduced to 1–2 terminal spikelets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets with glumes spirally arranged above but lower ones distichous, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 1–3.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets obovoid, obconical or obpyriform, obtusely or sharply 3-angled, smooth or tuberculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style base falling with style Style with (2–)3 stigmas, the style base distinct, thickened
Note
A pantropical genus with about 15 species. In Haynes & Lye, Sedges & Rushes of East Africa, the treatment is unorthodox and contrary to the code. Lye treats Bulbostylis as a subgenus of Abildgaardia. Each species is given a choice of two alternative names since Haines considered Bulbostylis should be kept as a genus. One name for each species is put in synonymy. Later in Fl. Eth. Lye keeps Abildgaardia and Bulbostylis separate.
[FTEA]

J. Browning, K.D. Gordon-Gray†, M. Lock, H. Beentje, K. Vollesen, K. Bauters, C. Archer, I. Larridon, M. Xanthos, P. Vorster, J. Bruhl, K. Wilson and X. Zhang (2020). Flora Zambesiaca Volume: 14: Cyperaceae. M.Á. García, J.R. Timberlake (Eds). Kew Publish

Morphology General Habit
Perennial tufted herbs
Morphology Culms
Culms scapose
Morphology Leaves
Leaves eligulate, well-developed or reduced to sheaths
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 1–5 solitary or anthelate flattened spikelets, basal glumes distichous, upper spiral; bracts not sheathing, inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes breaking at ± mid-length, basal portions persistent raggedly, clothing rachilla
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Florets bisexual; bristles absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 3-angled, base expanded slightly, dehiscent with style
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet obpyriform, stipitate; surface cells isodiametric, tuberculate or sparsely so.
Distribution
Genus of c. 10 species, chiefly Australian and S American with 3 species in southern Africa.
[FZ]

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Glabrous tufted perennials
Morphology Leaves
Leaves basal, flat, sharp-pointed
Morphology Culms
Culms slender, numerous in a tuft
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a solitary spikelet (rarely more than 1), subtended by 1 or 2 very small inconspicuous bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelet few–many-flowered, the deciduous scales imbricated in 2 rows. Bristles lacking
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 1–3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style pubescent, deciduous, with enlarged base; stigmas 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes 3-angled.
Distribution
A small genus of about 15 species, chiefly occurring in the Old World tropics.
[Cayman]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0