Cynorkis elegans Rchb.f., Flora 71: 150 (1888).
Homotypic Names:
Bicornella elegans (Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 144 (2006).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Cynorkis elata Rolfe, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29: 58 (1891).
Gymnadenia muricata Brongn. ex Kraenzl., Orchid. Gen. Sp.: 482 (1898).
Description:
Herbs 15-20 cm tall, leaves 2, radical (rarely solitary) flat against the ground, oblong-lanceolate (4-9 x 1.3-3.8 cm), shortly attenuate-petiolate, acute or subacute. Scape glabrous, with 3 sheaths with a narrow-acute limbus, inflorescence loose, 1-10 cm, long, 3-20 flowered, average sized (2-2.5 cm including pedicel), bearing several glandular hairs on the pedicel and the exterior bases of the sepals; bracts equaling a third the length of the pedicel. Sepals 3 veined, the median (5 mm long), hood shaped - very concave, apiculate-obtuse papillous exteriorly; lateral sepals large (6.5 x 4.7 mm), arched, attenuate-compressed basally, wider above the center. Petals narrow (4.5 x 1.5 mm), much larger in their lower third, attenuate toward the apex, obtuse, curved-falcate. Labellum 8 mm long, 5 lobed, contracted navicular basally, then dilate laterally in 2 small, very obtuse lobes, slightly retracted above these lobes and divided into 3 lobes, the 2 laterals obovate-sub rectangular 3-4 times larger (5 x 3.5mm than the median, very diverging, much wider at their rounded apexes; the median narrow (3 x 1.3 mm), attenuate from the bane to the obtuse apex, 7 veined basally, the median simple, the laterals and slightly dilate toward the attenuate-obtuse apex. Anther retuse, 2 mm tall, channel and cauda nearly 3 mm long, staminodes spatulate, adnate together, free apically, which is rounded and slightly longer than the amts of the rostellum. Rostellum arms short (l mm), median lobe obtuse, oblique in front, 0.7 mm tall. Stigmas wide, deep, adnate laterally apically. Pedicel 14-17 mm long hearing several pedicellate glands.
Habitat:
Epiphytes; in humid forests, from 400-1200m. alt.
Phenology:
Flowering in October.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
E. & SE. 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:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture |
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| Photograph Karl Senghas© Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission. |
