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Cynorkis anisoloba Summerh., Kew Bull. 12: 108 (1957).
Description:
Terrestrial herb 11–35 cm tall. Tubers usually 2, c. 2 × 0.8 cm, ellipsoid, villous. Leaves 1–3, basal, 3–13 × 1.4–2.7 cm, ovate to lanceolate, acute or apiculate; peduncle hairy with 2–3 sheathing leaves. Inflorescence lax, up to c. 20-flowered; rhachis hairy; bracts c. 7 mm long, lanceolate, acute; ovary and pedicels 9–10 mm long, arched, glandular-hairy. Flowers pale pink to purple, the lip with red spots. Sepals with scattered glandular hairs; dorsal sepal 3–4.2 × 2.5–3.3 mm, ovate, convex; lateral sepals 5.8–8 × 2.5–4 mm, obliquely ovate, obtuse. Petals 3–4 × 1.75–2.5 mm, subfalcate-oblong, attached to the column at the base and forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip 7–10 mm long, 5-lobed, the posterior lateral lobes very small, 0.6–0.9 mm long and less than 1 mm wide; anterior lateral lobes arising about half way along, 2–2.8 × 0.7–1.1 mm. Mid-lobe 2.5–5 × 1–1.8 mm. Spur 5–12 mm long, straight or C-shaped, tapering. Anther 1–1.4 mm high.
Habitat:
In damp or wet ground, in rock crevasses, or amongst short grasses, sometimes in deep shade 1350–1700 m.
Notes:
This species, apparently endemic to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, is closely related to the widespread Cynorkis hanningtonii.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cool to cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
Zimbabwe
References:
Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 1 Pope 1995; Terrestrial African Orchids, A select Review John S. Ball 2009
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph©Bart Wursten. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph©Bart Wursten. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph©Bart Wursten. Image used with kind permission.