Nervilia adolphi Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 552 (1915).
Description:
Erect terrestrial herb 2–10(13) cm tall, glabrous except for subterranean parts. Tuber 6–15 mm in diameter, subspherical or ovoid,(2)3(4)-noded. Leaf solitary, appearing after flowering, prostrate to suberect (blade up to 5 cm above litter surface), glabrous, 1.8–5.5 × 2–6.5 cm, broadly cordate or reniform, subacute to obtuse, dark olive-green above and purple beneath, or shiny green above, sometimes tessellate with silver, and green orpurple beneath; veins (5)7–9; petiole c. 0–5 cm long, sulcate with 1–2 sheathing cataphylls. Scape erect, terete, 1-flowered, with 2 sheathing cataphylls, lengthening to 8.6–21 cm when fruiting; bract 1.5–5.5(10.5) mm long. Flowers small, horizontal, fragrant. Sepals and petals spreading, closing again after about 8 hours anthesis, subequal, ligulate, acute, brownish-green; lateral sepals slightly oblique, 10–22 × 2.5–3.5 mm; petals slightly narrower than sepals. Lip 9.5–20 × 4–7 mm, oblong, 3 -lobed, white to pale pink with purple-violet shortly papillate markings; lateral lobes short, obtuse, erect, tightly clasping the column; mid-lobe (=epichile) 3–9.5 mm long, ovate, with a convex central ridge and an incurved margin. Column almost straight, 6–10 mm long, clavate, pubescent on ventral side; pollinia yellow, 2–3 mm long; ovary 2–7 mm long; capsule 7.5–10 × 4–5 mm.
Habitat:
Woodland, grassland, "virgin forest", riverine fringe-forest and pine plantation; 225-1750 m.
Distribution:
Trop. Africa
Key to the varieties of the Nervilia adolphi
Images:
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| Botanical Drawing / Herbarium |
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| Photograph copyright Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission. |
