A New Species of Cyperus from Somalia

Abstract

Summary. C. mudugensis, a new species from the Mudug area of Somalia is described and illustrated. The following new species was found during examination of material collected by M. Thulin and A. M. Dahir from the Mudug area of Somalia in 1988. Cyperus mudugensis D. A. Simpson sp. nov.; ab omnibus aliis somaliensibus habitu compacto, vaginis foliorum atrobrunneis persistentibus, culmis 4 -6 5 mm longis 0- 7-0 -8 mm latis, spiculis 1 mm latis ferrugineis, glumis 2- 5-2" 7 mm longis 1 -7-1 -9 mm latis, acheniis 0 -8-1 mm longis 0- 4-0- 5 mm latis differt. Typus: Somalia, Thulin & Dahir 6661 (holotypus K!; isotypus UPS). A compact, rather robust, tufted sedge. Roots coarse, fibrous, somewhat sandbinding. Base of plant dark brown, thickened by remains of leaf sheaths. Culms erect, 4-6 - 5 cm x 0 - 7 -08 mm, terete, glabrous, pale green. Leaves basal; leaf-blade narrowly linear, 2-6 cm x 0 - 7 -08 mm, obtuse, canaliculate to cylindrical in cross-section, becoming flattened near apex, pale green; leaf sheath open, 1 - 1 - 5 cm long, dark brown, with broad membranous margins. Involucral bracts 3, leaf-like, 0-3-2 -5 cm x 0- 5-0-8 mm, the basal bract longest, acute to obtuse, erect to spreading. Inflorescence comprising 1 sessile and 0-2 shortly pedunculate, digitate clusters of up to 10 spikelets; peduncles 0-8- 1 cm long; spikelets linear to linear-elliptic, 0-8-1*3 cm x 1 mm, acute, rusty brown; glumes ovate, 2 -5- 2 -7 x 1 -7- 1 9 mm, obtuse, shortly mucronate, somewhat keeled, midrib greenish to brownish, sides pale to mid-brown or reddish brown, indistinctly several-nerved, rachilla straight; stamens 3, anthers linear-oblong, 1 5-1 - 6 mm long, yellow, connective minute, filaments 2 -5 mm long, whitish, flat; stigma branches 3, mid-brown; style 1 -7-2 mm long, mid-brown. Achene obovate, 0 8- 1 x 0- 4-0 -5 mm, rounded, shortly apiculate, indistinctly 3-sided; achene surface pale to mid-brown, dull, minutely papillose. (Fig. 1).