Home | > | List of families | > | Cyperaceae | > | Ascolepis | > | capensis |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Tufted hairless perennial to 80 cm with a short rhizome; culm with leaf sheaths at the base. Inflorescence a white rounded head, subtended by 1-3 leaf-like bracts; longest 3-5 (-12) cm. Squamellae 3-4 mm, obovate, white, flattened, with the flower in a central hollow (pocket). Style 2-fid. Nutlet 2-2.5 mm, dark, soft and falling enclosed within the protective squamella. |
Notes: | Superficially similar to Kyllinga alba but clearly distinguished by the conglomerate, not spherical heads. |
Derivation of specific name: | capensis: of the Cape |
Habitat: | Seasonally wet grassland and marshes. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa from Mali to Ethiopia and southwards to South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Friday 29 June 2007 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 297. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 87. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 74. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 82. |
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