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Pachites bodkinii Bolus, Icon. Orchid. Austro-Afric. 1(1): t. 26 (1892).
Description:
A slender glabrous herb, scarcely a span high; stem erect few-leaved ; radical leaves none, cauline about 5, linear acuminate, with a broad membranous sheathing base, erect, the lowest about 3 cm. long, the upper gradually smaller; raceme short, loosely 5-fl., bracts leaf-like lanceolate, as long as the ovaries; sepals lanceolate acuminate 1 -nerved erect-spreading, 1-3 cm. long; petals acute, margins slightly incurved, prominently 1-nerved beneath, 1 cm. long; lip as long as the petals, erect, 3-lobed, side segments short oblong obtuse, the intermediate lobe lanceolate much longer, furnished at base on the under surface with a cluster of minute yellow tubercles ; cells of the anther curved, approximate at base only, glands of the pollinia capping the arms of the rostellum; rostellum horse-shoe-shaped, with erect arms (appendages); stigma horse-shoe-shaped, cushionlike; ovary cylindrical.
Etymology:
After Professor Alfred A. Bodkin (1847-1930), British born plant collector in South Africa who worked with Harry Bolus and accompanied him on collecting trips. He was Professor of Mathematics at Bishop's, Cape Town from 1881 to 1902.
Habitat:
In moist to marshy sheltered sandy slopes in fynbos at elevations of 300 to 800 meters.
Notes:
Colour of the flower pale purple, suffused with darker purple on the side-lobes of the lip; anther dark- brown; stem, bracts and leaves yellowish.
Phenology:
Flowering from November to December only in first year after fire.
Distribution:
SW. Cape Prov.
References:
Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982; Orchids of Southern Africa Linder & Kurzweil 1999; The phylogenetic position of the enigmatic orchid genusPachites South African Journal of Botany · April 2008
Images:
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Photograph© Hermanus Botanical Society, Fernkloof. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Hermanus Botanical Society, Fernkloof. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Hermanus Botanical Society, Fernkloof. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Hermanus Botanical Society, Fernkloof. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Hermanus Botanical Society, Fernkloof. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Hermanus Botanical Society, Fernkloof. Image used with kind permission.