Cynorkis saxicola Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 70 (1924).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella saxicola (Schltr.) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 146 (2006).
Description:
Plants thin, 12-25 cm tall; tubers elongated, with 3 radical, linear or lingulate-linear leaves (3.5- 6.5 cm x 4-7 mm) acute and glabrous. Scape, bristly-glandular, bearing 2-3 lanceolate-acuminate sheaths. Inflorescence (4 x 23 cm), very loose, 3-15 flowered, flowers red, small (16 mm including the pedicel) and glabrous: bracts lanceolate-acuminate, bearing several exterior glands, generally about half the length of the pedicel. Sepals obtuse and 3 veined, the median (3 mm) widely oval, very concave, 3 keeled behind, the laterals nearly twice as large (5 x 4 mm). Petals semi-orbicular, larger (2.2 mm) than tall (2 mm), apiculate-obtuse, adnate to the median sepal. Labellum (5-6 x 3 mm) dilate above the base, bidentate from each edge of this dilation, retracted above, very obtuse apically, opaque and with the veins slightly visible; spur cylindrical, curved in front and thickened rounded apically, 6-8 mm long. Anther obtuse, l mm tall, cauda and channel 0.6 mm long, viscidiums ovoid, 0.5 mm long, staminodes spatulate and very short (0.4 mm). Rostellum less than 1 mm long, with a ked above and terminated with a deep sinus or notch apically-medially, 2 lateral teeth flat. Stigmas much longer, than the rostellum and free apically. Pedicel generally 10cm. long, bristly-glandular.
Habitat:
Humid rocks from 2000 m alt., flowering in January.
Distribution:
SE. Madagascar
