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Cynorkis lowiana Rchb.f., Flora 71: 150 (1888).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Lowiorchis lowiana (Rchb.f.) Szlach., Orchidee (Hamburg) 55: 315 (2004).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Cynorkis purpurascens Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 331 (1835), nom. illeg.
Description:
Plants 10-16 cm tall, tubers 2, elongated and villous; bane of the leaf and stem sheathed by 2 sheaths, the first short, the second elongated (1-2.3 cm), brownish and tubular; leaf solitary, narrowly lanceolate linear (4.5-13 x 0.6-1.6 cm), slightly attenuate toward the bane and longly attenuate-acute apically. Scape thin, 7-12 cm tall, generally 1 flowered, rarely 2 flowered; bracts lanceolate-acute (often 11 x 7 mm), generally a third the length of the pedicel which is very long (2.5-4.5 cm) and very thin; flowers large, sepals, petals and spur green tinted with rose and the labellum of a pretty carmin red, with a darker median spot. Sepals and petals 8-10 mm long. Labellum wider (27 mm) than long (22 mm), 4 lobed, the inferior lobes often longer than the medians, spur thin, equal to or slightly longer than the pedicel. Anther 3 mm tall, cauda rigid, 8 mm tall, viscidiums very small (0.2 mm), staminodes sub orbicular (0.6 mm in diameter). Rostellum 8 mm long totally: semi-circular and furrowed, truncate apically at the base of the amts, below into a wide membrane joining the as in their lower half and forming a incurved lip in front; amts thick, horizontal and 5 mm long. Stigmas in narrow, 8 mm. long laminas, joined laterally and free from the rostellum.
Habitat:
On trunks or moss covered rocks; in eastern forests.
Phenology:
Flowering in September-November.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot to cool growing epiphyte or lithophyte.
Distribution:
E. 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; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans, Du Puy, Cribb & Bosser 2007
Images:
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In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph Karl Senghas© Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph Karl Senghas© Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph Karl Senghas© Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.