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Cynorkis uniflora Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 331 (1835).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Gymnadenia uniflora Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 712 (1840), nom. inval.
Cynorkis grandiflora Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 332 (1883).
Cynorkis grandiflora var. albata Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 332 (1883).
Cynorkis grandiflora var. purpurea Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 332 (1883).
Description:
Plants 10-20 cm tall, tubers elongated and villous, leaf solitary. radical. 7.5-20 cm long. Scape generally bearing 2 sheaths, 1 or 2 flowered (very rarely 3), bracts equal to or only half the length of the pedicel, flowers with the sepals green with touches of brown. the labellum of a pretty violet-red with 2 yellow spots basally. Sepals 2.2-2.6 cm long, the median slightly concave and much wider medially and 6-7 veined, the laterals wider above the middle and 5-6 veined. Petals longer, but narrower, nearly oblanceolate, cupped apically in an oblique and obtuse point, 3-4 veined. Labellum (3-4 x 2.5 cm) 4 lobed, the laterals subsquare (13 x 11 mm), the frontals diverging, narrower (13 x 3.5 mm), spur 3.5-4cm. long, slightly dilate apically. Anther 3 mm tall, very obscurely apiculate-obtuse. Rostellum 15 mm long totally, arms 4.5-5 mm long and the median lobe transverse, twice as wide as tall (1.5-2 x 4 mm), narrow or very widely emarginate on its front margin. Pedicel 4.5-8 cm long.
Habitat:
Bare rocks in open places or more rarely epiphytic, between 1200 and 1400 m alt.: flowering in December-March.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Cynorkis uniflora Lindl.
Distribution:
C. & SE. Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar: vascular plants: 49th family, Orchids / by H. Perrier de La Bathie; published under the auspices of the government of Madagascar and under the direction of H. Humbert; English revision and translation by Steven D. Beckman; Du Puy, D., P. Cribb, J. Bosser, and J. and C. Hermans. 1999. The Orchids of Madagascar; Du Puy, D., P. Cribb, J. Bosser, and J. and C. Hermans. 1999. The Orchids of Madagascar. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, England. Hawkes, A. (1965) 1987. Encyclopaedia of cultivated orchids. Faber and Faber, London
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.