Cynorkis galeata Rchb.f., Flora 68: 536 (1885).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Imerinorchis galeata (Rchb.f.) Szlach., Orchidee (Hamburg) 56: 69 (2005).
Description:
Plants epiphytic or lithophytic, 12-25cm. tall; tubers 4-6, elongated and more or less villous. Scape sheathed basally by 2 loose scarious sheaths, then the sheath of the single radical leaf, longer or nearby longer than the inflorescence, bearing above 1 or 2 smaller sheaths, sprinkled is the upper parts with pedicellate-glands; leaf widely elliptical or oblong (10-18 x 3-5.2 cm.), glabrous, longly attenuate and shortly petiolate basally and more shortly toward the acute apex; inflorescence, ovoid (4.5-7 x 3-4.5cm.), with 7-15 violet flowers, 2.5-3cm. long (with the pedicel); bracts a third the length of the pedicel in the center of the inflorescence; sprinkled with pedicellate-glands. Sepals bearing on their external surfaces several pedicellate-glands, the median ova! (7-8 x 3-3.5 mm.), 3 veined and slightly acute. the laterals semi oval (11-14 x 5-6 mm.), obtuse, 5 veined, the veins curved toward the dilate front margin. Petals semi-lanceolate (8 x 2.5 mm.). acute and 3 veined. Labellum 7-8 mm. long, linguiform, subentire, bearing a dilate tooth on each banal edge. acute apically and 5 veined: spar l2-I4 mm. long, filiform. Anther very resupinate; cauda 2 mm. long. dilate with the pollina and attenuate toward the viscidiums; viscidiums clavate. white and ovoid (0.6 x 0.3 mm.); staminodes spatulate and wide. Rostellum arms rigid, slightly spatulate apically, 2 mm. long, median lobe deltoid-obtuse, taller l mm. than wide basally, attached narrowly between the 2 lobes of the anther. Stigmas is wide obtuse laminas, free apically l mm. margins distinct. then joined and confluent in a wide lip, slightly shorter than the arms of the rostellum. Pedicel 15-22mm. long. bristly with pedicellate glands.
Habitat:
In forests, on trunks or rocks; flowering: September-May.
Distribution:
Comoros, Madagascar
