Angraecopsis parva (P.J.Cribb) P.J.Cribb, in Fl. Trop. E. Afr., Orchid.(3): 601 (1989).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Holmesia parva P.J.Cribb, Kew Bull. 32: 175 (1977).
Microholmesia parva (P.J.Cribb) P.J.Cribb in D.J.Mabberley, Plant-book: 371 (1987).
Mystacidium parvum (P.J.Cribb) R.Rice, Oasis 3: 13 (2006).
Description:
Plant dwarf with a very short stem 2–4 mm long; roots slender, terete, less than 1 mm in diameter. Leaves 2–4, twisted at the base, linear-oblanceolate, obtuse, 1.5–2 cm long, 2–4 mm wide. Inflorescences 1.5–2.5 cm long, 2- to 5-flowered; bracts minute; pedicel with ovary 2–3 mm long. Flowers tiny, greenish white; dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse, 1.5 mm long; lateral sepals oblanceolate, acute, 2 mm long; petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, 1.2 mm long; lip concave, ovate, shortly apiculate, fleshy and obscurely 3-lobed at the apex, 1.7 mm long, 1.3 mm wide; spur S-shaped, clavate, 1–2 mm long.
Habitat:
On twigs and branches of shrubs in montane forest, also on trunks amongst mosses; 1800–2285 m; fl owering in February and April.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cool growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
SW. Tanzania to N. Malawi
References:
Malawi Orchids Vol 1 La Croix 1983; Flora of Tropical East Africa Vol 3 Cribb 1989; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 2 Pope 1998; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and Campbell 2006 ; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 14.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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