Abildgaardia Vahl (Vahl 1805: 296)

Rasaminirina, Fitiavana & Larridon, Isabel, 2023, The genera of Cyperaceae of Madagascar, Plant Ecology and Evolution 156 (3), pp. 276-310 : 276

4. Abildgaardia Vahl (Vahl 1805: 296)

Type species.

Cyperus monostachyos L. [= Abildgaardia ovata (Burm.f.) Kral]

Description of the genus.

Small to medium-sized annuals or tufted perennials; short woody rhizome. Culms scapose, rounded, generally glabrescent, rarely scabrid. Leaves eligulate, sometimes reduced to a sheath, basal polystichous, sheaths distally open, loose, ribbed; blades mostly filiform, compressed or lunate to semicircular in cross section, margins strongly involute. Primary bracts short, not sheathing, inconspicuous. Inflorescence terminal, depauperate anthelate or capitate. Spikelets few or reduced to one single spikelet. Glumes many densely (spiro) distichous, deciduous, each subtending a floret. Floret bisexual, protandrous. Perianth bristles absent. Stamens 2-3. Style deeply 3-fid, base distinct, thickened, deciduous. Nutlets mostly obovoid, stipitate, rounded trigonous, rarely winged, surface often tuberculate.

Distribution and ecology.

Abildgaardia is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics ( POWO 2022). It grows in grasslands, woodlands, freshwater wetlands, and brackish marshes. Abildgaardia occurs throughout Madagascar; two species are known including e.g. Abildgaardia triflora (L.) Abeyw. (Fig. 16 ).

Figures

Figure 16. Abildgaardia triflora. A. Habit. B. Two leaf bases. C. Leaf apex. D. Spikelet. E. Rachilla. F, G. Glume, complete and upper abscised part. H. Young floret. I. Style and branches. J. Nutlet with filaments. All from Robinson 2038. Scale bars: A = 40 mm; B, C, H-J = 2 mm; D-G = 5 mm. Drawn by Jane Browning, reproduced with permission from the artist, originally published in Browning et al. (2020).