Cyperus chionocephalus (Chiov.) Chiov. ex Chiarugi

Snowhead Sedge (Cyperus chionocephalus)

The Snowhead Sedge was described in 1939, it is, or was, endemic to Somalia; the author of the species mentiones the following about it (in a revision in 1951).:

Poco diffuso; poco sviluppato in altezza (10-20 cm.). A Mega cresce lungo l’uadi presso la Residenza Italiana e sulla collina presso il Consolata Inglese, sotto Juniperus procera.” [1]

translation:

Not widespread; little developed in height (10-20 cm.). A big stand grows along the wadi at the Italian residence and on the hill near the English consulate, under Juniperus procera.”

According to this account, the species appears to have been restricted to an area that now is the city of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

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I personally have no further information about this species, it appears in a list of extinct species, thus I’ll mention it here as well.

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References:

[1] Emilio Chiovenda: Missione Biologica Sagan-Omo. Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography 8(1): 1-120. 1951

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edited: 27.05.2019