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Pterygodium volucris (L.f.) Sw., Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 218 (1800).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Ophrys volucris L.f., Suppl. Pl.: 403 (1782).
Ommatodium volucris (L.f.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 365 (1838).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Ophrys triphylla Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap.: 2 (1794).
Description:
A glabrous erect herb, 15-30 cm or more in height ; stem straight or occasionally flexuous, loosely and distantly leafy; radical leaf spreading ovate or oblong acute, 6-10 cm. long, the upper more erect smaller, passing gradually into bract-like sheaths; spike cylindrical many-fl., bracts lanceolate deflexed, flowers about 1,2 cm. long, 8 mm, wide; side sepals spreading ovate acute or subobtuse; odd sepal oblong very obtuse; petals subtriangular, the upper margins folded over downward; limb of the lip broadly triangular-hastate acute, with a spreading tooth-like fold on either side near the base, appendage about equally long erect cup-shaped, with an oblique marghi entire or emarginate or dentate in front; connective of the anther ascending incurved somewhat half-ring-shaped, the cells inverted, glands inferior; arms of the rostellum adnate to the connective of the anther; stigmas 2, placed one on either side of the appendage of the lip, at its base.
Habitat:
Sandy or clayey soils often recorded under bushes.
Phenology:
Flowering from August to October - mostly after fire.
Notes:
Colour of the flowers sulphur yellow, the whole plant drying pale.
Distribution:
SW. & S. Cape Prov.
References:
Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 3, page 3, (1913) Author: (By R. A. ROLFE.); The phylogeny and evolution of the Pterygodium—Corycium complex (Coryciinae, Orchidaceae) H. Kurzweil, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol. 175, No. 3/4 (1991), pp. 161-223; Orchids of Southern Africa Linder & Kurzweil 1999; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image Used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www. africanplants. senckenberg.de	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image Used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www. africanplants. senckenberg.de	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image Used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www. africanplants. senckenberg.de