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Cynorkis graminea (Thouars) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 51 (1924).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Satyrium gramineum Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 6 (1822).
Habenaria graminea (Thouars) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 690 (1826).
Platanthera graminea (Thouars) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 292 (1835).
Peristylus gramineus (Thouars) S.Moore in J.G.Baker, Fl. Mauritius: 336 (1877).
Benthamia graminea (Thouars) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 24 (1924).
Bicornella graminea (Thouars) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 144 (2006).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella longifolia Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 335 (1838).
Bicornella parviflora Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 500 (1885).
Bicornella similis Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 305 (1916).
Cynorkis longifolia (Lindl.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 59 (1924).
Cynorkis similis (Schltr.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 71 (1924).
Description:
Plants glabrous, very thin, 15-60 cm tall, without tubers; roots numerous, fiberous or slightly fleshy. Scape with 3-6 inferior leaves (below the middle), graminiform, linear-narrow, very attenuate-acute. More or leas elongated (6-30 cm), bearing above a series of sheaths gradually diminishing in size. Inflorescence 3-10 cm long, very loose; bracts linear-acuminate, shorter than the pedicel, flowers small (12 mm with the pedicel), purplish or rose and maculate with dark spots, sometimes papillous on the external parts. Median sepal very concave, very widely oval, wider (3 mm) than long; laterals semi-obovate, longer (4 mm), 3 veined and adnate to the base of the labellum. Petals free, similar to the lateral sepals, but shorter (2.8-3 mm) and 2 veined. Labellum (4.5-5 mm), sub entire, dialate in the banal quarter or third, slightly contracted above, then lanceolate-obtuse; spur 3.5-4.3 mm long, wide basally, slightly contracted medially and enlarged apically, sometimes sub cylindrical. Anther l mm tall, cauda 0.5-0.7 mm long, viscidiums oval, staminodes generally equaling half the length of the anther. Rostellum 0.7-1 mm long intermediary teeth (extremities of the channel) longer and incurved in the form of a cone. Stigmas longer than the tip of the rostellum. Pedicel (7 mm) arched, glabrous or more rarely sprinkled with pedicellate-glands.
Habitat:
Marshes, humid open woods, from 0-2000m. alt.
Phenology:
Flowering in November-March, on the high plateaus all year in the hotter regions.
Notes:
This species is very widely represented and very variable as to its height, length of the leaves and the dimensions and number of the small flowers.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot to cool growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
Mascarenes, 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
Images:
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Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.