Cynorkis tenuicalcar Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 73 (1924).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Imerinorchis tenuicalcar (Schltr.) Szlach., Orchidee (Hamburg) 56: 69 (2005).
Description:
Plants terrestrial, 13-23 cm tall; tubers 2, elongated; leaf solitary, developed, oblanceolate (4-10 x 0.6-1.4cm.), acute or acuminate, attenuate-sub petiolate toward the base; scape glabrous, thin, with 2-3 sheaths with a very acuminate limbus; inflorescence (5 x 3 cm) 3-10 flowered, flowers glabrous, of average size (1.8-2 cm including the pedicel), of a pretty red-violet; bracts half or more than half as long as the pedicel. Sepals 3 veined, the median (4 x 3mw.) hood shaped with the petals, oval-lanceolate and sub acute, the laterals larger (8 mm), obovate and nearly apiculate. Petals (5 x 2 mm) lingulate-obtuse and 1-2 veined. Labellum entire, oblong (5-8 x 2.5 mm), not attenuate basally, slightly obtuse, provided basally with a small conical appendage. 5 veined, spur filiform, 2.7 cm long. Anther (l mm) retuse, cauda l mm long, enlarged at the pollina; viscidiums white, oblong (0.6 mm) and obtuse at both ends: staminodes very narrow. Rostellum with the arms 1.3 mm long, thick and slightly curved inward; median lobe of the rostellum longer than the arms, taller than the anther by a third, wide basally, obtuse apically, recurved between the 2 lobes of the anther. Stigmas widely spatulate, free in their upper two thirds, joined by their internal margins basally and slightly apically, forming a wide open notch apically and open medially with a wide elliptical vent. Pedicel glabrous, 1-1.3 cm long.
Habitat:
In lichen forests, from 2000 m alt.; flowering in October.
Distribution:
Madagascar
