Cynorkis symoensii Geerinck & Tournay, Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 47: 484 (1977).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella symoensii (Geerinck & Tournay) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 146 (2006).
Description:
Terrestrial or epiphytic herb 11–15 cm tall.Tubers 2, c. 1 cm long, ovoid.Basal leaves 2, semi-erect, 8–11 × 1.2–2.3 cm, narrowly elliptic, dark glossy-green; peduncle leaves 2–4, sheath-like, up to 13 mm long.Peduncle glabrous.Inflorescence c. 5 cm long, fairly densely flowered, flowers up to 12, secund; bracts c. 7 mm long, lanceolate, acute; ovary and pedicel 8–12 mm long, semi-erect, arched at the top, the ovary slightly papillose.Sepals green, petals magenta, lip bright magenta-pink.Dorsal sepal 3.5–5 × 2.3 mm, ovate, very convex; lateral sepals 4 × 2.5–3 mm, obliquely ovate. Petals similar to lateral sepals, forming a hood with the dorsal sepal.Lip 10 × 12 mm, wedge-shaped, 3-lobed with the mid-lobe reduced to a small point.Side lobes 5–8 mm long and wide, rounded.Spur 7–8 mm long, parallel to the ovary, swollen to 2 mm in diameter at apex.Anther loculi 1.2 mm high, staminodes very short.
Notes:
Although not known to be in cultivation, this species is exceptionally attractive, and one can always hope that one day it might be introduced. Cynorkis summerhayesiana Geerinck is a similar species with an even larger lip, 15-25 x 10-15 mm, known only from Zaire.
Habitat:
Submontane and montane forest, sometimes on mossy rocks, and some- times epiphytic on tree trunks and lianas, sunk in moss, at heights of to 6 m (20 fr.) above ground, 1750-2400 m (5800-8000 fr.).
Distribution:
Rwanda to Malawi
