Jumellea zaratananae Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 305 (1925).
Description:
Plants acaulis, very robust, 16-40cm. tall, leaves 5-6 lingulate (to 35 x 3.5 cm), slightly attenuate toward the base, coriaceous but thin. Inflorescences shorter (16-20 cm) than the leaves; peduncie thin, 8- 11cm long, bearing 3 apiculate, l cm, long sheaths; bracts tubular-apiculate, 1 cm long. Sepals lingulate obtuse, 22 mm long, slightly attenuate toward the apex. Petals linear-lingulate, slightly narrower and thinner than the sepals. Labellum sub unguiculate basally, rhomboid-lanceolate, acute, 23 mm long and 6 mm wide medially, provided above with a short, fine costa; spur filiform-pendent, 9 cm long. Column 4 mm long; auricles with their superior angles subacute and much more developed than their inferiors, median tongue of the rostellum half as long as the auricles. Anther depressed medially (in the form of a saddle) obtuse in front of the sinus. Pedicel to 9 cm long. Capsule fusiform-cylindrical (10.5 x 1 cm), pedicel thin.
Habitat:
Growing in moss forest at around 1,700 meters in altitude, and flowering in December-January.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cool to cold growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
N. Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1936/81; Cultivated Angraecoid Orchids Of Madagascar Hillerman & Holst 1986; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 19.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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