Diaphananthe sarcophylla (Schltr. ex Prain) P.J.Cribb & Carlsward, Phytotaxa 71: 45 (2012).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Chamaeangis sarcophylla Schltr. ex Prain, Index Kew., Suppl. 5: 54 (1921).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Chamaeangis orientalis Summerh., Kew Bull. 6: 473 (1951 publ. 1952).
Description:
Epiphytic herb; stems 2–15 cm long. Leaves pendent, 7–33 × 0.5–1.5(2.5) cm, linear, falcate, very unequally 2-lobed at the apex; lamina keeled, fleshy, oliven-green, often tinged with orange. Inflorescences 1–2, erect, c. 10 cm long, densely many-flowered, the flowers in whorls of 2–4 at the nodes. Flowers c. 5 mm in diameter, scented, peach, pinkish-orange or orange coloured. Pedicel and ovary 3.5–5 mm long; bracts sheathing, 1.5–2 mm long. Dorsal sepal 2–3.5 × 1–2 mm, oblong to ovate; lateral sepals slightly larger, oblique and recurved. Petals spreading or recurved, 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm, ovate or lanceolate. Lip 2.5–3.5 × 2–3 mm, suborbicular to ovate-oblong, obtuse or obscurely 3-toothed at the apex; spur 9–19 mm long, slender but slightly inflated in apical third, straight and parallel to rhachis. Column short, c. 0.5 mm long.
Habitat:
High-level epiphyte in submontane evergreen forest, abundant on large branches of tall forest trees 1600–1900 m.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, warm to cold growing, monopodial epiphyte.
Distribution:
Malawi, Kenya; Rwanda; Tanzania; Uganda; Zaire
References:
Orchids of East Africa Piers 1968; Orchids of Kenya Stewart 1996; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 26.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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