Description:

• Perennials, tufted
• Culms with basal nodes
• Leaves basal, eligulate; sheath with adaxial apex truncate, glabrous; blade linear, sometimes very short or 0, without keeled midrib, profile thickly crescentiform
• Inflorescence a single spikelet, or capitate, or a simple anthela; subtending bracts foliose or scale-like
• Spikelets of several subdistichous to spirally arranged glumes, basal few empty, up to 20 fertile, bisexual, upper few male or empty
• Perianth 0
• Stamens 3
• Style 3-branched
• Nutlet obovate, triangular, smooth, warty or rugose

Classification Notes:

• The problem of the interrelationship between the generic concepts of Fimbristylis, Abildgaardia and Bulbostylis is discussed by Lye: 539 (1971) and Gordon-Gray: 549 (1971) respectively
• Lye took positive action by making transfers from Bulbostylis to Abildgaardia, whereas Gordon-Gray expressed reservations
• Gordon-Gray (1995) has accepted the genus as here defined
• Recently Lye: 108 (1995) has again accepted the genus Bulbostylis; the differences between Abildgaardia and Bulbostylis are summarised by Lye: 595 (1996)

Nomenclature:

• Abildgaardia Vahl
  • Vahl: 296 (1805)
  • Kunth: 247 (1837)
  • Lye: 539 (1971)
  • Gordon-Gray: 19 (1995)
• Fimbristylis L. section Abildgaardia (Vahl) Benth.
  • Clarke: 200 (1898)
• Fimbristylis L. in part
  • Schonland: 33 (1922)
  • Gordon-Gray: 549 (1971)
  • Gordon-Gray: 110 (1972)
  • Compton: 71 (1976)
  • Forbes: 47 (1987)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Species ± 10, Africa, Asia and Australia
• Southern Africa: Species ± 3, in Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and Eastern Cape