Cyperus hirtus Thunb. from South Africa is lectotypified and shown to belong to Fimbristylis squarrosa Vahi. Misidentification of this plant and misapplication of its name by Kükenthal in 1936 has resulted in American botanists using Bulbostylis hirta (Thunb.) Svenson (e.g., in Flora Mesoamericana) for the pantropical taxon Bulbostylis hispidula (Vahl) R. Haines.