Tridactyle tridactylites (Rolfe) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 148 (1918).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum tridactylites Rolfe, Gard. Chron. 1888(2): 34 (1888).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Aeranthes diesteliana Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 33: 75 (1902).
Listrostachys kindtiana De Wild., Not. Pl. Util. Congo 1: 148 (1903).
Angraecum kindtianum (De Wild.) De Wild., Miss. Ém. Laurent 1: 225 (1906).
Mystacidium ledermannianum Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 51: 393 (1914).
Tridactyle kindtiana (De Wild.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 145 (1918).
Tridactyle ledermanniana (Kraenzl.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 146 (1918).
Description:
Stems to l m long, usually trailing but sometimes erect; roots smooth, stout, 3-6 mm in diameter. Leaves distichous, on apical half or third of stem, 12-18 x 1-1.5 cm, linear or strap-shaped, unequally bilobed at the apex, rather lax. Inflorescences arising along the stem, 3-6 cm long, 10- to 16- flowered. Flowers greenish-cream or yellow-green, 10 mm in diameter, arranged in two rows. Pedicel and ovary 6 mm long; bracts 1-2 mm long, reflexed. Sepals 3.5-5.5 x 1.5-2.5 mm, lanceolate, acute, the tips recurved; petals similar but slightly shorter and narrower. Lip auriculate at base, 4-5 mm long, trilobed at about half way; midlobe 2-3 mm long, triangular; side lobes longer, spreading, becoming almost threadlike. Spur 6-11 mm long, very slender, straight or incurved. Column 1.5-2 mm long.
Habitat:
Epiphytic on trunks and lower branches of tree in evergreen forest, usually riverine forest, forming large colonies; often growing very luxuriantly on rocks; 900-1800 m.
Cultivation:
Potted in a coarse mix, in a basket, at intermediate temperatures, in moderate shade.
Distribution:
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko),Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome, Principe, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
References:
Orchids of East Africa Piers 1968; The Orchids of South Central Africa Williamson 1977; Malawi Orchids La Croix 1983; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 2 Pope 1998; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and Campbell 2006; World Checklist of Monocotyledons. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots/ accessed 21.03.2017
Images:
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| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph©Bart Wursten. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph©Bart Wursten. Image used with kind permission. |
