Cynorkis brachyceras Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 43 (1924).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Imerinorchis brachyceras (Schltr.) Szlach., Orchidee (Hamburg) 56: 69 (2005).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Bicornella brachyceras Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 44 (1924).
Description:
Plants thin, 30-35 cm tall, tubers 2, elongated; stem bearing in the lower half 2-4 leaves and several sheaths above with a narrow limbus, leaves narrowly linear-acute (8-JO x 4-6 mm). Inflorescence conical or shortly cylindrical (nearly 6 x 2 cm), bracts longer than the pedicel basally, flowers small (12-13 mm including the pedicel), white maculate with rose. Median sepal (5mm) narrowly oval, concave and 3 veined, laterals oblong-lingulate, obtuse and larger (6 mm). Petals narrowly oblong, very obtuse, slightly attenuate toward the base. Labellum oblong (6 x 2.5 mm), compressed basally, trilobed above the center; lateral lobes short, triangular and small, median lobe widely rhomboid-oval and obtuse; spur oblong, saccate-obtuse and l.5-2 mm long. Anther small (a slight l mm tall); staminodes reduced to a small obtuse projection near the base of the arms of the rostellum; viscidiums hyaline, rounded and soft. Rostellum arms nearly 2 mm long, curved toward the interior, attenuate from the base to the obtuse apex, thinner and sub hyaline, median lobe short (0.3 mm) obtuse, difficult to sec, attached between the 2 lobed of the anther below the connective appendage. Stigmas lateral, not reduced, joined and united at the end in a deep viscous pit completely replacing the stigmas. Pedicel glabrous, 6-7 mm long.
Habitat:
In marshes, from l500 m alt., flowering in November.
Distribution:
C. Madagascar
