Summary. A morphometric analysis of three known species of Cyperus (Cyperus glaucophyllus, C. fischerianus and C. pseudoleptocladus) and two putative new species was carried out. One new species, Cyperus beentjei, is described, illustrated and mapped. The conservation status of the new species is Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN red listing methodology. A key to the wider group of African species is given and attention drawn to further research needs.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to everyone involved in the ‘Sandwich Student’ scheme at Kew, and to Durham University for facilitating Lucinda Gardner’s placement. We would also like to thank Simon Mayo and Don Kirkup for advice on statistical tests, and Henk Beentje for his advice on this group. Thanks also to the various people (including the reviewers) that patiently read through earlier versions of this manuscript and provided excellent feedback.
Partial funding for this paper came through the eMonocot project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NE/H02185X/1).
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Appendices
Appendices
Appendix 1. Morphological characters
List of all morphological characters studied.
Spikelet length, spikelet width, glume length, glume width, nutlet length, nutlet width, anther length, base of involucral bract width, culm width, number of spikelets per spike, number of glumes per spikelet, presence of vivipary on the primary branch, presence of vivipary on the secondary branch, nutlet colour and glume colour.
Appendix 2. Herbarium material
List of all herbarium material studied.
Cyperus glaucophyllus
congo : 3 April 1938, Flendsiehse? 659 (K!). kenya : Kajiado Distr.: Iltoroto Hill SE of Sultan Hamud, 26 Feb. 1969, Napper 1916 (K!); Kiambu Distr.: Thika, behind the Blue Posts Hotel, 20 Dec. 1967, Faden 67/777 (K!). Thika, Blue Posts Hotel, 2 March 1969, Napper 1930 (K!); Kitui Distr.: Mutomo Hill Plant Sanctuary, 16 March 1969, Napper 1944 (K!); Nanyuki Distr.: 18 km NE of Nanyuki, Cedarvale Farm, 22 Oct. 1977, Gilbert 4889 (K!); NE province, 10 July 1960, Oteke 122 (K!). malawi: Mulanje, near the flag, Mulanje North, 9 Feb. 1980, Patel 470. mozambique: Zambezia, Serra do Guruè, 18 Oct. 1949, Barbosa 4514 (K!). tanzania: Dodoma Distr.: T5, Kondoa, Mondo road, 3 Feb. 1973, Richards 28526 (K!); Lushoto Distr.: T3, Gorge 2 km S of Bumbuli, on Soni/Mazumbai road, 28 March 1975, Hooper & Townsend 1023 (K!); Kilmanjaro, S slope between Umbwe and Weru Weru Rs, 1 Sept. 1932, Greenway 3213 (K!). Marangu route, 16 Oct. 1994, M & L 93994 (K!); Kilosa Distr.: T6, Roadside bank at edge of forest, 1 km N of Mandege Forest Station, 8 Aug. 1972, Mabberley 1412 (K!). T6, June 1981, Rodgers & Mirasumbi 1231 (K!). rwanda: Kibuya, Wisumu, Centre forestier suisse, commune Gisovu, 31 May 1978, Troupin 16007 (K!). uganda: Lodoketeminit, near Maroto Karaimoja, 16 July 1959, Kerefoot 1167 (K!). Luhiza, 1 Oct. 1961, Rose 1143 (K)
Cyperus pseudoleptocladus
angola: Huila, Cuanhama, Evale, no Tchimbudumutue, 14 Nov. 1964, de Menezes 1395 (K!). cameroons: Bamenda, along the footpath from Bambuluwe to Bamuko, by the river bank, 7 July 1959, Daramola 41582 (K!). malawi: Cholo Mt, 28 March 1971, Brass 17664 (K!); Mzimba Distr.: Mzuzu, Marymount, 8 March 1973, Pawek 6484 (K!). Mzuzu, Marymount, 14 June 1973, Pawek 6862 (K!). 28 March 1971, Pawek 4541 (K!); Northern region, Nkhata bay Distr.: 21 km SW of Nkhata Bay on road to Chinteche, 11 May 1970, Brummitt 10621(K!); Ntchisi Distr.: Ntchsisi Mt, Forest patch SE of main peak, 3 May 1980, Blackmore et al. 1393 (K!). mozambique: Zambezia Province: Chiperone Mt, 30 Nov. 2006, Harris 97 (K!). rwanda: Kibaya Birenga, 5 July 1978, Raynal 20846 (K!). Rangiro, 12 June 1978, Raynal 20497 (K!). zambia: Mwinilunga Distr.: Dambo at Chisenga R., Mwinilunga-Solwezi road, 26 Feb. 1975, Hooper 412 (K!). Chingabola,(Sinkobola) dambo near Matonchi, 16 Feb. 1975, Hooper 81 (K!).
Cyperus fischerianus
congo: Kivu Province: Rutshuru, P.N.A., near Maluango, June 1954, de Witte 10578 (K!); Nioka, 2 Oct. 1952, Liben 409 (K!). ethiopia: Bonga, near Roman Catholic Mission, 14 Aug. 1965, de Wilde 7702 (K!); Monagasha Forest, Addis Ababa, 20 Oct. 1958, Mooney 7577 (K!); Nadda, 27 Oct. 1954, Mooney 6217 (K!). kenya: Baraton Nandi Distr.: Kapsabet Auea, 5 Aug. 1984, Siemen 109 (K!); Kericho Distr.: Sambret-Timbilil SW Mau Forest, Sept. 1956, Kerfoot 2806 (K!); Kitale, 6 Sept. 1956, Bogdan 4260 (K!); Lumbwa Distr., 15 Oct. 1910, H.? 2767 (K!); Taita Hills, Marimbongonyi Valley, Maktau, 8 Oct. 2000, Mungai 3104 (K!). malawi: Rumphi Distr.: Nyika Plateau, 4 Jan. 1977, Pawek 12253 (K!). mozambique: Tacuane Distr.: Mt Mabu, 17 Oct. 2008, Timberlake 5434 (K!). tanzania: Lushoto Distr.: Lushoto arb., 30 Dec. 1971, Issa 99 (K!); Mbeya Distr.: Poroto Mts, 17 May 1957, Richards 9795 (K!); Udzungwa Mt, near Mt Luhomero, 26 Sept. 2000, Luke 6671 (K!); Udzungwa Mt, Luhomero mt, Camp 132, 3 Oct. 2000, Luke 6888 (K!). uganda: Wheeler-Haines 4036 (K!). Sebei Distr.: Mt Elgon, near Mutusyet, 4 July 1971, Lye & Katende 6410 (K!).
‘Cyperus sp. nov. 1’
kenya: Taita Distr.: Taita hills, near Bura, 2 Dec. 1998, Luke et al. 5503 (K!). Taita Taveta, Bura, W of Bura R., 4 km S of St. Mary’s Teacher College, 22 Nov. 1997, Muasya 153 (K!); tanzania: Same Distr.: Mkomazi Game Reserve, Ibaya Hill, 3 June 1996, Vollesen 96/7 (K!); Lushoto Distr.: Mswaha Mandera, 3 July 1969, Archbold 1066 (K!); Karenga (Gologolo) mt near Kidatu, Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve, 28 March 1970, Harris et al. 4255 (K!).
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Gardner, L.R., Weber, O. & Simpson, D.A. Cyperus beentjei, a new species of Cyperaceae from Tropical East Africa delimited through morphometric analysis. Kew Bull 69, 9501 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-014-9501-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-014-9501-5