Cynorkis aphylla Schltr., Ann. Inst. Bot.-Géol. Colon. Marseille, III, 1: 150 (1913).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Lowiorchis aphylla (Schltr.) Szlach., Orchidee (Hamburg) 55: 315 (2004).
Description:
Plants 15-22 cm tall roots fleshy and villous; leaves radical, not developed at flowering, but large and widely oblong-acute. Scape 10-16cm. tall, with several small, distant sheaths, often single flowered, sometimes 2-3 flowered, bracts much longer than the pedicel, flowers large, of a deep rose. Sepals obtuse, the median (8 x 5 mm), widely oval and 5 veined, the laterals semi-orbicular. Petals forming a hood with the median sepal, lanceolate-linear (8 x 1.2 mm), acute and 3 veined. Labellum 4 lobed above the compressed base, large and wider (3 cm) than long (2.4 cm), inferior lobes diverging and very obtuse, frontal lobes oblong, 7 veined, the median projecting basally, spur filiform, 4.5 cm long. Anther rounded, 2 mm tall, channel and cauda 5.5 mm long, viscidiums small (a slight l mm), oval, staminodes curved-sickle shaped, acute, positioned at the bane of the arms of the rostellum, l mm long. Rostellum very thick, 5.5 mm long totally, arms horizontal, attenuate apically, 1.5 mm long; median lobe superior, compressed, obliquely ascending, 1 mm long, nearly wider basally, obtuse apically, inferior lobes, liplike, obtuse and pendent, larger than the superior lobe. Stigmas very short, not reduced, joined laterally. Pedicel glabrous 4.4 cm long.
Habitat:
On wet rocks, sandstone, from 0.200 m alt.; flowering in September-November.
Distribution:
N. Madagascar
