Cynorkis pleistadenia (Rchb.f.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 488 (1915).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Habenaria pleistadenia Rchb.f., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 404 (1885).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Cynorkis volkensii Kraenzl. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas, C: 151 (1895).
Description:
Terrestrial or rarely epiphytic herb 12-45 cm. high; roots tuberous or slender, densely woolly; tubers ellipsoid, up to 2 cm. long and 1 cm. in diameter. Stem slender, erect, glandular hairy in the upper part, with 1 leaf or rarely 2 leaves at the base and several distant sheaths above. Leaf erect, lanceolate or oblanceolate, acute, 4.5-16.5 cm. long, 1-3 cm. broad, glabrous Inflorescence rather laxly several- to many-flowered, up to 9 cm. long, ± 3 cm. in diameter. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, much shorter than the ovary, sparsely glandular hairy. Flowers pink, mauve or violet, suberect. Dorsal sepal ovate, subacute, convex, 5-6 mm. long, 3-4 mm. broad; laterals spreading, obliquely ovate-elliptical, obtuse, 7.5-10 mm. long. Petals falcate-oblong, subacute, 5-7 mm. long, forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip ligulate or linear, obtuse, ± 7 mm. long, 1-2.5 mm. broad; spur incurved, narrowly cylindrical, nearly 2 cm. long. Column short; rostellum middle lobe erect, triangular, slightly overtopping the anther. Ovary densely glandular hairy.
Habitat:
Upland rain-forest, Erica arborea zone or grasslands nearby; 1800-3300 m.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus; cool to cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
Tanzania
References:
Flora of Tropical East Africa Summerhayes Orchidaceae Part 1 1968
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
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| Photograph© David Schellenberger Costa. Image used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www.africanplants. senckenberg.de |
Photograph© David Schellenberger Costa. Image used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www.africanplants. senckenberg.de |
Photograph© David Schellenberger Costa. Image used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www.africanplants. senckenberg.de |
Photograph© David Schellenberger Costa. Image used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www.africanplants. senckenberg.de |
Photograph© David Schellenberger Costa. Image used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www.africanplants. senckenberg.de |
Photograph© David Schellenberger Costa. Image used with kind permission from African plants – A Photo Guide. www.africanplants. senckenberg.de |
