Cynorkis cardiophylla Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 307 (1916).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella cardiophylla (Schltr.) Szlach. & Kras, Richardiana 6: 143 (2006).
Description:
Herbs, 20-30 cm tall; leaf single, radical, flat against the soil, sub orbicular or widely oval (3-4.5 x 2.5.3.5 cm), apiculate and glabrous. Scape hispid-glandular, with 3-5 distant sheaths; inflorescence densely many flowered; bracts shorter than the pedicel; flowers average (2 cm including the pedicel), of a pretty violet-red, the external parts bearing several pedicelate glands. Sepals elliptical-obtuse, the median very concave, 7 mm long, the laterals longer (9 mm). Petals lanceolate-falciform. Subacute, 7 mm long, front margin shortly 1 toothed medially. Labellum compressed, wide basally, 8-10 mm long, 5 lobed, the basals very small and deltoid-obtuse, the 3 others narrowly-oblong, obtuse, the median slightly longer than the lateral; spur thin, 8-10 mm long, cylindrical, then slightly dilate-ciavate apically. Anther l mm tall, cauda fine, slightly thicker than the pollina; staminodes obtuse, taller than the anther; viscidiums sub spherical basally, longly elongated with the rostellum in an acute point, 1.5 mm long; channel 2.5 mm long. Rostellum with 3 subacute teeth, the median of which is twice as large as the laterals. Stigmas in wide spatulate laminas, free in their apical half. Pedicel densely glandular, generally 1 cm long.
Habitat:
Rocks in ericoid hushes, from 1800-2400 m alt., flowering in January-April.
Distribution:
C. & SC. Madagascar
