Hetaeria heterosepala (Rchb.f.) Summerh., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 207 (1934).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Cheirostylis heterosepala Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 110 (1881).
Zeuxine heterosepala (Rchb.f.) Geerinck, Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 50: 120 (1980).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Zeuxine commelinoides A.Chev., Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franç. 1: 619 (1920), nom. nud.
Zeuxine odzalaensis Geerinck & Lejoly, Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 66: 154 (1997).
Description:
Herb, perennial up to 20 cm tall. Rhizome fleshy, creeping, 3-4 mm in diam., rooting at the nodes. Leaves ovate, acute, 2.2-4.5 x 1-1.8 cm; petiole and sheath 8-12 mm long. Inflorescence densely racemose, 2-6 cm long, up to 20-flowered; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 5-7 mm long, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers usually non-resupinate, with green sepals and white petals and lip; dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse, 4- 5 x 1.7-2.5 mm, adnate to the petals to form a hood over the column; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, similar to dorsal sepal; petals obliquely oblong-elliptic, 4-4.5 x 1.5 mm; lip bipartite, 3.5-5 x 3-3.5 mm; basal part saccate, bearing 2 recurved, hooked calli at the base within; the apical lobe transversely oblong, emarginate, apiculate; column 2.5 mm long, with two linear, acute to obtuse, porrect arms at apex.
Habitat:
This species occurs on forest floor in deep shade in dense wet forest; around 990 m in Madagascar.
Distribution:
W. Trop. Africa to Tanzania, N. Madagascar
