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Cynorkis purpurascens Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 15 (1822).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Orchis purpurascens (Thouars) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 687 (1826).
Gymnadenia purpurascens (Thouars) A.Rich., Mém. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 27 (1828).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Cynorkis purpurascens var. praecox Schltr., Ann. Inst. Bot.-Géol. Colon. Marseille, III, 1: 40 (1913).
Cynorkis praecox (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 65 (1924).
Description:
Lithophytes or more rarely epiphytes, 25-50 cm tall, roots villous; leaf solitary, developed or not at flowering, very large (20-40 x 4-10 cm), oval-lanceolate attenuate, often petiole (shortly) basally. Scape glabrous, habitually provided with a solitary caulinar sheath; inflorescence sub corymbiform, 10-35 flowered, flowers large and of pretty mauve; bracts large, glabrous, much shorter than the pedicel. Sepals 10 mm long, the median oval-obtuse, the laterals nearly semi-orbicular. Petals (7-10 x 2-3 mm) narrow. Labellum 18-25 mm long, narrow-creased basally, gutter shaped with 4 subequal lobes (or the laterals wider) and many veined; spur 1.5-4 cm long, generally slightly shorter than the pedicel. Anther 2.5-3 mm tall, shortly apiculate or obtuse; staminodes short and wide; cauda 5 mm long; viscidiums small ( a slight 0.3 mm) and rounded. Rostellum 5 mm long, arms 3 mm long and the median lobe thick, slightly saddle shaped, obliquely upright, obtuse and equal to the arms or slightly shorter (2-3 mm tall). Stigmas inclusive. Pedicel 3-6 cm long bearing several pedicellate glands.
Etymology:
The name of the genus is the combination of the Greek substantives “κύων, κυνός” (cyon, cynós) = dog and “ὄρχις” (orkis) = testicle, with reference to the shape of the tubers; the specific name is the Latin adjective “purpurascens, entis” = tending to purple, with reference to the colour of the flowers.
Habitat:
On Madagascar, this very common lithophytic or epiphytic orchid has been found in the vicinity of Antananarivo, Antsiranana, and Mahajanga where they grow in shaded situations on rocks in humid areas or occasionally on trees in humid forests from near sea level to 4900 ft. (1500 m).
Phenology:
Flowering in September-May; very common.
Cultivation:
Read more of cultivation of Cynorkis purpurascens Thouars
Distribution:
Mascarenes, Madagascar
References:
De la Bathie, H., and H. Humbert. [1939, 1941] 1981. Flora of Madagascar 1-2. The Government of Madagascar and the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Translated and published in 1 vol., Steven D. Beckman, 621 Palm Ave., Lodi, CA, U.S.A. 95240. 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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Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.