Diaphananthe spiralis (Stévart & Droissart) P.J.Cribb & Carlsward, Phytotaxa 71: 45 (2012).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Chamaeangis spiralis Stévart & Droissart, Syst. Bot. 34: 289 (2009).
Description:
A short stemmed, 1–2 cm, epiphytic herb, glabrous. Leaves fleshy, falcate, oblong-elliptic to narrowly obovate, apex bilobed, unequal and subacute to rounded, 9.5–11 × 1.7–1.9 cm, twisted at the base. Inflorescences axillary, up to 25-flowered, racemose, 7.5–9 cm long, with flowers arranged in a spiral, sometimes fasciculate; one flower per node; peduncle fleshy, cylindrical, 1.3–1.4 mm in diameter; bracts acute, amplexicaul, glabrous, 0.5–1.2 mm long, 1–2 mm apart; pedicel and ovary cylindrical, straight, 2.4–2.9 mm long. Flowers glabrous, greenish and yellowish; dorsal sepal ovate, apiculate, 2.1–2.8 × 1.1–1.4 mm; lateral sepals oblong-elliptic, carinate on the abaxial side, 2.1–3 × 1.2–1.6 mm; petals obovate, 1.6–2 × 0.8–1.1 mm; lip 3-lobed in the centre, without callus, 1.9–2.2 × 1.5–2 mm (when spread out), side lobes obtuse, bent towards the interior; median lobe deflexed, subobtuse; spur cylindrical, curved, abruptly inflated-rounded in the apical half, forming a globular sac 2 mm wide, 3.5–4.2 mm long; column approximately 0.8 mm long; pollinia 2, approximately 0.2 mm in diameter; stipes 2; viscidia 1, ovate.
Etymology:
The specific epithet was chosen to indicate the flower disposition, which differentiates this species from other members of the genus. Sanford also made this observation on the specimen he collected in Nigeria.
Habitat:
Epiphyte collected on fallen trees in Caesalpinaceae forest. This species has also been found in secondary forest on small branches of a tree of about 20 m high. Alt. 100–220 m.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
Lower Guinea Domain (Cameroon and Nigeria). This species was recently collected near Nguti village in the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary (West Cameroon). The other specimen from Southwest Cameroon was also collected just near the border of another protected area, the Campo Maan National Park. Given the status of these protected areas, it seems likely that C. spiralis is not endangered, but additional information is needed to clarify its conservation status and entire distribution.
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 26.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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