Pterygodium platypetalum Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 366 (1838).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Pterygodium alare T.Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 116 (1894).
Description:
A slender delicate pale-coloured glabrous herb, 5-15 cm. high; stem thin, usually flexuous, distantly 1-2-leaved ; lower leaf linear-lanceolate acuminate, 2-5-4 cm. long, the upper smaller; flowers 1-2, distant, about 1,2 cm. long, 1-8 cm. wide; bracts ovate acuminate nearly as long as the flowers; odd sepal lanceolate acuminate concave or almost saccate towards the base; side sepals ovate concave spreading; petals nearly semi-orbicular, the upper margin bilobed, rounded below, very concave, limb of the lip saddle-shaped with distinct hanging flaps and a narrowed point, appendage fleshy, produced into two large erect ear-like lobes at the top of the column, thence suddenly bent backward and downward behind the column into a somewhat subulate curved ridged acute piece; arms of the rostellum horizontal; stigmas 2; ovary obovate trigonous.
Notes:
Colour of the flowers pale sulphur-yellow; stem and leaves very pale.
Habitat:
Mountains of the Cape Peninsula, rocky places, alt. 550 met., fl. Sept.
Distribution:
SW. Cape Prov.
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| Botanical Drawing / Herbarium |
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| Photograph copyright Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission. |
