Cheirostylis divina (Guinea) Summerh., Kew Bull. 8: 131 (1953).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Mariarisqueta divina Guinea, Ensayo Geobot. Guin. Continent. Espan.: 268 (1946).
Description:
Rhizome fleshy, horizontal, creeping in the upper part. Stem 7-16(20) cm tall, erect, delicate, glandular above the leaves. Leaves 5-7(9), distributed in the middle part of the stem, petiolate; petiole and sheath up to 1.6(3) cm long, more or less as long as the blade; blade 0.7-1.8(2.6) cm long, 0.6-1.6(2.3) cm wide; ovate with cordate base, acute, thin, delicate; 3-4 cauline bracts above leaves, ca. 0.8(1.5) cm long, glandular, amplexicaul, acute. Inflorescence 1-1.5(6.5) cm long, 3-10(21)-flowered. Flowers small, tubular, white. Floral bract 4—5 mm long, broadly ovate, acuminate, thin, delicate, rather sparsely glandular outside, single-nerved. Pedicel 1.2-2 mm long, twisted. Ovary 4 mm long, sparsely glandular. Sepals joined together for the half of their length forming a distinct sepaline tube, thin, delicate, glandular outside in their lower parts. Dorsal sepal ca. 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, ovate with lanceolate cucullate apex. Petals ca. 3 mm long, I mm wide, linear at the base, spatulate above, obtuse, agglutinate to the sepaline tube. Lateral sepals of the same size, obliquely ovate, lanceolate and cucullate at the apex. Lip distinctly longer than other perianth segments, 4.8-5.8 mm long, sessile; basal part 2-2.6 mm long, 1-1.4 mm wide, canaliculate, saccate at the base with two fleshy, finger-like appendages, pubescent inside near the apex; apical part bilobed, lobes widely spreading, 3.5-3.8(4.6) mm long, 1.8(2.5) mm wide, elliptic-obovate in general outline, dentate along apical margins.
Habitat:
Lowland and submontane humid forests. June, October-December.
Variability:
Cheirostylis divina is divided into two varieties:
Cheirostylis divina var. divina.
Cheirostylis divina var. ochyrae Szlach. & Olszewski,
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
W. & WC. Trop. Africa
References:
Orchidaceae of West-central Africa, vol. 1, Gdansk University Press Gdansk 2010
