Home

Cynorkis gibbosa Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 331 (1883).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Cynorkis gibbosa f. aurea Hermans, Orchid Rev. 115: 255 (2007).
Description:
Herbs, 25-50 cm tall, with several elongated tubers, villous, base of the leaves and scape, sheathed basally by 3 evasive sheaths; leaf solitary, radical (rarely 2) very large (10-20 x 3-3.5 cm) oblong-lanceolate, shortly attenuate toward both ends, amplexiculate basally, often maculate with purplish-black. Scape habitually bristly-glandular, sometimes glabrous, bearing 2-3 distant, caulinar sheaths; inflorescence dense, many flowered (10-40 flowered), sub corymbiform, rachis short, often less than twice as long as a single flower (pedicel included); bracts narrow, not equaling half the pedicel; flowers large, of a carmine-red, vivid or of a clear purple, bearing most often several glands on the pedicel and the external parts of the flower. Median sepal (12 mm), very gibbous basally, emarginate apically and 5 veined; laterals joined shortly to the base of the labellum and the petals, slightly longer than the median and slightly falcate, angular apically on the superior margin, with 4 veins divided above the bane and curved toward the lateral apicule. Petals nearly similar to the lateral sepals, but narrower and 2-3 veined. Labellum joined basally to the column, trilobed, lateral lobes slightly emarginate apically and 4 veined, the median less deeply bilobed, sometimes only notched medially, veins more visible and numerous, provided basally with a median keel, elongated between the 2 anterior lobes by a small obtuse apicule: spur attenuate. Anther resupinate, cupped apically in the gibbosite of the median sepal, cauda 12-13 mm long, thicker than the pollina; viscidiums spherical (0.4 mm); staminodes oblique, lateral free, with a 2 mm long obtuse apex. Rostellum 11 mm long, arms short (2mm.) with the median lobe reduced with a small obtuse, obsolete projection. Stigmas inclusive and very small. Pedicel 2-3 cm long, nearly always covered with pedicellate glands.
Habitat:
This lithophytic or terrestrial orchid grows mostly on shady rocks at 1950-4900 ft. (600-1500 m) on the central part of the eastern half of the island. Plants have been reported from the vicinity of Fianarantsoa in the south to Antananarivo and Toamasina (Tamative) in the north.
Phenology:
Flowering in September-March.
Cultivation:
Read more of cultivation of Cynorkis gibbosa Ridl.
Distribution:
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; Du Puy, D., P. Cribb, J. Bosser, and J. and C. Hermans. 1999. The Orchids of Madagascar.
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.

In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.