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Pterygodium acutifolium Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 366 (1838).
Description:
An erect glabrous herb, 20-40 cm. high; stem usually somewhat robust, straight 3-4 foliate, the leaves distant, decreasing in size upward, rather densely 4-10 fl., the flowers racemose suberect; leaves erect, the lower oblong-linear acute, sheathing at base, 5-15 cm. long, the upper lanceolate acuminate sheathlike, 2,4-5 cm. long; bracts herbaceous ovate-lanceolate acuminate, exceeding the ovary; lateral sepals spreading, obliquely ovate, acuminate concave, sacculate at base, 1,2-1,4 cm. long; odd sepal erect subgaleate apiculate, as long as the lateral ones; petals erect, almost semi-orbicular, concave, margin obscurely undulate, as long as the odd sepal; limb of the lip deflexed rhomboidal acuminate, 0,7- 0,8 cm. long, the appendix erect oblong, attenuate towards the apex, incurved and furnished with two fleshy lines, 1 cm. long; arms of the rostellum ascending; stigma somewhat crescent-shaped.
Habitat:
In swamps and in rock flushes at elevations of 50 to 1300 meters.
Flower Date:
September to December - mostly after fire
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; Hybridization between two oil-secreting orchids in South Africa Kim E. Steiner, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol. 277, No. 3/4 (February 2009), pp. 233-243
Images:
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Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.