Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 762 No. 2: 16 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-16
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.762.2.4
Page range: 137-148
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Revisionary notes on Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) in India: new combinations, synonymy and lectotypification

Department of Botany; Arts; Commerce and Science College; Shreewardhan – 402110; Raigad; Maharashtra; India. (Affiliated to University of Mumbai)
Department of Botany; Fergusson College; (Autonomous) Pune- 411004; Maharashtra; India
Department of Botany; Rayat Shikshan Santha’s; Balwant College; Vita- 415311; Maharashtra; India (Affiliated to Shivaji University; Kolhapur)
Botanical Survey of India; Western Regional Centre; Pune - 411001; Maharashtra; India
Department of Botany; Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj’s K.R.T. Arts; B.H. Commerce and A.M. Science (KTHM) College; Gangapur Road; Nashik- 422002; Maharashtra; India. (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University; Pune)
Department of Botany; HPT Arts; & RYK Science College; Nashik- 422005; Maharashtra; India (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University; Pune)
Department of Botany; Rayat Shikshan Santha’s; Loknete Ramsheth Thakur; A.S.C. College; Mokhada- 401604; Palghar; Maharashtra; India (Affiliated to University of Mumbai)
Monocots Endemic New combination Nomenclature Peninsular India Sedges Synonymy

Abstract

The present study provides taxonomic and nomenclatural clarifications within the genus Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae: Abildgaardieae) in India based on field surveys, herbarium studies, and detailed morphological examinations. Bulbostylis barbata subsp. pulchella is raised to species rank as Bulbostylis pulchella, while B. swamyi and B. maritima are reduced to synonyms of this species. The species previously known as Scirpus thwaitesii is transferred under the genus Bulbostylis, and its rediscovery after 188 years is reported. Lectotypes are designated for Isolepis pulchella and Scirpus thwaitesii to stabilize their nomenclature type. The study also provides descriptions, photoplates, nomenclatural notes, and a key to the Indian species of Bulbostylis.

References

  1. Bentham, G. (1881) Actinoschoenus filiformis Benth. Hooker’s Icones Plantarum 14: 33 pp. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15988187]
  2. Boeckeler, O. (1874) Die Cyperaceen des Königlichen Herbariums zu Berlin. In: Garcke, A. & von Schlechtendal, D.F.L. (Eds.) Linnaea: Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange. F. Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 223. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/122094]
  3. Clarke, C.B. (1893) Cyperaceae. In: Hooker, J.D. (Ed.) The flora of British India. Vol. 7. L. Reeve & Co., London, pp. 585–748.
  4. Dalavi, J.V., Chougule, R.N., Jadhav, V.D. & Yadav, S.R. (2019) Variation in Seed Micromorphology in Portulaca L. (Portulacaceae) in India. Phytomorphology 69 (1–2): 15–24. [https://ispm.co.in/6912/2.html]
  5. Datar, R. & Vartak, V.D. (1976) Taxonomic study of the genera Liphocarpha R.Br. and Bulbostylis Kunth from India. Journal of the University of Poona, Science and Technology 48: 19–32.
  6. Deshi, S., Betageri, S., Patgar, V.G. & Kotresha, K. (2025) Achene morphology of some genera of Cyperaceae Juss. in Karnataka. Species 26: e41s3181. https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v26i78.e41s3181
  7. Govindarajalu, E. (1985) Studies in Cyperaceae: XIX. Species novarum Cyperacearum in memoriam optimi Professoris Swamy. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 94: 11–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053102
  8. Handel-Mazzetti, H.R.E. (1930) in Karsten, G. & Schenck, H. Vegetationsbilder 20 (7): 16.
  9. Jain, S.K. & Rao, R.R. (1976) A Hand Book of Field and Herbarium Methods. Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi.
  10. Jussieu, A.L. (1789) Genera Plantarum 26. Available from: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5437260
  11. Koyama, T. (1980) Further notes on the Cyperaceae of Ceylon. Botanical Magazine Tokyo 93: 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02488738
  12. Kunth, C.S. (1837) Enumeratio Plantarum 2. Cyperographia synoptica. Sumtibus J.G. Cottae, Stuttgart & Tübingen, 205 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.67381
  13. Larridon, I. (2022) A linear classification of Cyperaceae. Kew Bulletin 77 (1): 309–315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-022-10010-x
  14. Larridon, I., Zuntini, A.R., Barrett, R.L., Wilson, K.L., Bruhl, J.J., Goetghebeur, P., Baker, W.J., Brewer, G.E., Epitawalage, N., Fairlie, I., Forest, F., Kikuchi, I.A.B.S., Pokorny, L., Semmouri, I., Spalink, D., Simpson, D.A., Muasya, A.M. & Roalson, E.H. (2021a) Resolving generic limits in Cyperaceae tribe Abildgaardieae using targeted sequencing. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 196 (2): 163–187. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boaa099
  15. Larridon, I., Zuntini, A.R., Léveillé-Bourret, É., Barrett, R.L., Starr, J.R., Muasya, A.M., Villaverde, T., Bauters, K., Brewer, G.E., Bruhl, J.J., Costa, S.M., Elliott, T.L., Epitawalage, N., Escudero, M., Fairlie, I., Goetghebeur, P., Hipp, A.L., Jiménez-Mejías, P., Kikuchi, I.A.B.S., Luceño, M., Márquez-Corro, J.I., Martín-Bravo, S., Maurin, O., Pokorny, L., Roalson, E.H., Semmouri, I., Simpson, D.A., Spalink, D., Thomas, W.W., Wilson, K.L., Xanthos, M., Forest, F. & Baker, W.J. (2021b) A new classification of Cyperaceae (Poales) supported by phylogenomic data. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 59 (4): 852–895. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12757
  16. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum. L. Salvius, Stockholm, pp. 45 & 159.
  17. Madhav, N.A., Gosavi, K.V.C. & Chandore, A.N. (2024) Bulbostylis thouarsii (Cyperaceae: Abildgaardieae): An addition to the flora of Odisha state, India. Nelumbo 66 (1): 138–139. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v66/2024/173277
  18. Ocampo, G. (2013) Morphological Characterization of Seeds in Portulacaceae. Phytotaxa 141: 1–24. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.141.1.1
  19. Paneru, D., Joshi, D. & Rajbhandary, S. (2025) Micromorphological study of Cyperaceae flora from southwestern Nepal. Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science 16: 46–51. https://doi.org/10.3126/botor.v16i1.79988
  20. Pashirzad, M., Vaezi, J., Moghaddam, D.A., Memariani, F. & Joharchi, M.R. (2014) A species-level of morphological and nut micromorphology study of the Cyperus complex (Cyperaceae) in northeast of Iran. Annual Research & Review in Biology 4 (24): 3848–3862. https://doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2014/11165
  21. Pignotti, L. & Mariotti, L.M. (2004) Micromorphology of Scirpus (Cyperaceae) and related genera in south-west Europe. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (1): 45–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00269.x
  22. POWO (2026) Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ (accessed 21 May 2026)
  23. Prasad, V.P. & Singh, N.P. (2002) Sedges of Karnataka (India). Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany Addl. Ser. 21. Scientific Publisher, Jodhpur, pp. 46–56. [https://share.google/iulnh9xadCb0z8ne0]
  24. Prasad, V.P., Chowdhury, S.D., Jana, B. & Maji, A. (2020) Cyperaceae. In: Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (Eds.) Flowering Plants of India, an annotated checklist (Monocotyledons). Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. 249–300.
  25. Rameshkumar, K.B., Sruthy, B., Viji, A.R. & Dhruvan, T. (2022) Diversity of Cyperaceae plants in South India: Phytochemical perspective. KSCSTE–JNTBGRI, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, pp. 8–18. [ISBN 978-81-955043-3-6; https://jntbgri.res.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cyperaceae-book.pdf]
  26. Rao, A.S. & Verma, D.M. (1982) Cyperaceae of North East India. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, Calcutta, pp. 40–41. [http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/3079]
  27. Roalson, E.H., Prata, A.P., Mesterhazy, A., Chase, M.W., Simpson, D.A., Thomas, W.W. & Larridon, I. (2019) A broader circumscription of Bulbostylis including Nemum (Abildgaardieae: Cyperaceae). Phytotaxa 395 (3): 199–208. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.395.3.4
  28. Roemer, J.J. & Schultes, J.A. (1817) Systema vegetabilium. Cotta, Stuttgardt, pp. 134.
  29. Rottboll, C.F. (1773) Descriptionum et iconum rariores et pro maxima parte novas plantas illustrantium. Sumptibus Societatis Typographicae, pp. 52. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10166115]
  30. Stafleu, F.A. & Cowan, R.S. (1986) Taxonomic literature: a selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries and types. Vol. 6. Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema, Utrecht, pp. 341. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33212383] https://doi.org/10.5962/t.206495
  31. Stafleu, F.A. & Cowan, R.S. (1988) Taxonomic literature: a selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries and types. Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema, pp. 277. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33066617]
  32. Sudhakar, J.V., Arumugam, S., Murugan, C. & Murthy, G.V.S. (2023) Cyperaceae of Tamil Nadu. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. 9–14. [https://share.google/E0G6NS4u8k876MUi6]
  33. Sunil, C.N., Prasad, V.P. & Kumar, V.N. (2020) Bulbostylis maritima—A new species of Cyperaceae from coastal Kerala, India. Phytotaxa 430 (1): 51–56. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.430.1.8
  34. Thiers, B.M. (2025) Index Herbariorum (continuously updated). Available from: https://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed 21 December 2025)
  35. Thwaites, G.H.K. & Hooker, J.D. (1864) Enumeratio plantarum Zeylaniae: An enumeration of Ceylon plants, with descriptions of the new and little-known genera and species, observations on their habitats, uses, native names, etc.. Dulau, London, 350 pp. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/527921]
  36. Trimen, H. (1885) Systematic catalogue of the flowering plants and ferns indigenous to or growing wild in Ceylon, with the vernacular names and with references to Thwaites's Enumeratio. G.J.A. Skeen, Colombo, 102 pp. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37562939] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.54971
  37. Turland, N.J., Wiersema, J.H., Barrie, F.R., Gandhi, K.N., Gravendyck, J., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Herendeen, P.S., Klopper, R.R., Knapp, S., Kusber, W.-H., Li, D.-Z., May, T.W., Monro, A.M., Prado, J., Price, M.J., Smith, G.F. & Zamora Señoret, J.C. (2025) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Madrid Code). Regnum Vegetabile 162. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226839479.001.0001
  38. Vahl, M. (1805) Enumeratio plantarum 2. Schubothe, Copenhagen & Leipzig, pp. 1–423. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.7564
  39. Veldkamp, J.F. & Verloove, F. (2014) Bulbostylis thouarsii (comb. nov.) is the correct name for Scirpus puberulous Poir., non Michx. (Cyperaceae). Blumea—Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants 59: 10. https://doi.org/10.3767/000651914X681667
  40. Viji, A.R. & Preetha, T.S. (2018) Revisionary studies of the family Cyperaceae in Kerala (Technical report). Department of Botany, University College, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, pp. 1–47.
  41. Wadoodkhan, M.A. (2015) Cyperaceae of Western Ghats, West Coast and Maharashtra. Datsons, Nagpur, 582 pp.
  42. Wallich, N. (1820) Scirpus densus In Roxburgh, W. Flora indica, or, Descriptions of Indian plants. Vol. 1. Printed at the Mission Press, pp. 231. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/787508] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.589
  43. WFO (2026) World Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: https://www.worldfloraonline.org/ (accessed 21 May 2026)

How to Cite

Madhav, N.A., Bramhadande, S.P., Khot, V.V., Dalavi, J.V., Kambale, S.S., Gosavi, K.V.C. & Chandore, A.N. (2026) Revisionary notes on Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) in India: new combinations, synonymy and lectotypification. Phytotaxa 762 (2): 137–148. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.762.2.4