Cynorkis lilacina Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 515 (1885).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella lilacina (Ridl.) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 145 (2006).
Description:
Plants 25-40 cm tall; tubers 3-6, rounded or oval; leaf single, radical, lanceolate (6-18 x 1.2-2.5 cm), very attenuate toward both ends, but more petiolate basally, acute, often reddish or violet below peduncle with 2-4 distant sheaths, with narrow, acute limbuses; cluster spiciform less dense, 5-20 flowered; bracts lanceolate, narrow and very acute, not more than half the length of the pedicel; flowers violet or lilac, often slightly papillous on the external surfaces of the flowers and more or less hairy. Median sepal oval-acute, very concave, 6 mm long, 3 veined, forming a hood with the petals; laterals larger (8 x 3.5 mm) semi-oblong, obtuse and 5 veined: petals oval-lanceolate (5 x 3 mm), unique lateral, dilate medially on the external margin, 2-3 veined. Labellum trilobed, 1 cm long, thickened basally; lateral lobes obtuse, wide, short (3 x 2.5 mm) and 3 veined: median lobe larger (4.5 x 2.3 mm) oblong-lanceolate, obtuse and 3 veined; spur curved in front, wide at us oriface (1.8 mm), then attenuate and swollen and obtuse truncate apically, 7 mm long. Anther 1 .6 mm tall; cauda rigid, viscidiums lanceolate very acute, rounded basally and l mm long, staminodes very visible, oblique, truncate apically and with 2 heavy veins. Rostellum 2.5-4 mm long (from the connective appendage of the anther to the apex), in a horizontal lamina, emarginate medially and with 4 teeth in front, the 2 intermediaries (elongated in a slightly projecting channel) small and acute. Stigmas in small cushions adnate together their total length. Pedicel 15-20 mm long, more or less glandular hispid.
Habitat:
Notes:
This species is widely represented, having numerous variations.
Distribution:
Comoros, Madagascar
