Cynorkis usambarae Rolfe in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 260 (1898).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Habenaria usambarae Kraenzl., Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1894: 57 (1894).
Holothrix usambarae Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 248 (1894).
Description:
Terrestrial herb up to 23 cm. high; tuber ellipsoid, ± I cm. long, tomen-tose. Stem slender, erect, glabrous at base, glandular hairy above, with 2 or 3 leaves at the base and several lanceolate acuminate sheaths above. Leaves spreading, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, to 2.5 cm. long and 1 cm. broad, glabrous. Inflorescence rather laxly 6-20-flowered, 6-8 cm. long; rhachis glandular hairy. Bracts lanceolate, acute, shorter than the ovary. Flowers suberect. Dorsal sepal ovate, subacute, ± 2.5 mm. long, convex; laterals obliquely semi-orbicular or semi-oblong, subacute, nearly 4 mm. long; all glabrous. Petals obliquely ovate or oblong, subacute, equalling the dorsal sepal. Lip cuneate, tridentate at the apex and slightly swollen on each side at the base, 5mm. long; spur pendent, slightly incurved, cylindrical, slightly swollen towards the apex, 5mm. long. Column short, obtuse; rostellum middle lobe very small, stigmas shortly clavate. Ovary glandular hairy.
Habitat:
In gravely places probably in rainforests.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
Tanzania (C. Usambara Mts.)
Reference:
Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 1 Summerhayes 1968
