Cynorkis kirkii Rolfe in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 261 (1898).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella kirkii (Rolfe) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 145 (2006).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Cynorkis oblonga Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 26: 333 (1899).
Cynorkis morlandii Rolfe, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1910: 283 (1910).
Description:
Terrestrial herb 10-45 cm. high; root-tubers ovoid or ellipsoid, 1-2.5 cm. long, 5-12 mm. in diameter, woolly. Stem erect, slender or rather stout, with 1-2 scarious sheaths and a single leaf at the base and usually I lanceolate acuminate sheath about half-way up, glabrous. Leaf erect or spreading, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptical, shortly acuminate, 5-22 cm. long 2-5.5 cm. broad, glabrous. Inflorescence short, up to 5 cm. long, rather closely 1-11-flowered; rhachis glandular hairy. Bracts long acuminate from an ovate base, up to 1.5 cm. long, shorter than the ovary, glabrous. Flowers pink or mauve, the lip pale yellow in centre, suberect; pedicel with ovary 2.5-3.5 cm. long. Dorsal sepal erect, ovate, very convex, ± 5 mm. long; laterals spreading, obliquely elliptical, obtuse, ± 6 mm. long. Petals adhering to the dorsal sepal, obliquely oblong or elliptical, 5 mm. long. Lip projecting forwards, 10-15 mm. long and broad, almost equally 4-lobed or 3-lobed with the middle lobe deeply divided, the outer lobes broader than the inner, all oblong or widened slightly towards their apices; spur slender, pendent, 2-2.5 cm. long. Column stout, ± 2.5 mm. long; anther-canals short; rostellum middle lobe triangular, projecting forwards; stigmas shortly clavate. Ovary glabrous.
Habitat:
On seepage slopes or on mossy rocks, usually in light shade, but occasionally in roe open, on seepage areas in montane grassland, 1200-1700 m (4000-5600 ft.).
Notes:
Cynorkis oblonga Schltr. is probably a small form of Cynorkis kirkii, with many colonies including plants with 1–3 flowers.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot to cool growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
Kenya to S. Trop. Africa
References:
Flora of Tropical East Africa Summerhayes Orchidaceae Part 1 1968; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11, Part 1, (1995) Author: I. la Croix and P.J. Cribb; THE EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS OF SOCHE MOUNTAIN Brian Morris, The Society of Malawi Journal, Vol. 20, No. 2 (July, 1967), pp. 30-39; THE ORCHIDS OF MALAŴI Brian Morris, The Society of Malawi Journal, Vol. 35, No. 2 (1982), pp. 7-23
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph© Margaret Westrop. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Margaret Westrop. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Margaret Westrop. Image used with kind permission. |
