Roeperocharis bennettiana Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 104 (1881).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Habenaria bennettiana Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 104 (1881).
Roeperocharis elata Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 521 (1915).
Description:
Robust terrestrial herb 50–100 cm tall; tubers 2–2.5 × 1–2 cm, globose or ellipsoid, glabrous. Stem leafy; leaves up to 10, the 2 lowermost black and sheathing, the rest erect, up to 22 × 1.5 cm, narrowly lanceolate, acute, ribbed, decreasing in size towards the stem apex. Inflorescence 11–24 × 3–4 cm, densely many-flowered. Flowers green. Ovary and pedicel 11–25 mm; bracts leafy, 25–30 mm long, longer than the flowers. Dorsal sepal erect, 6.2–11.5 × 4–6.5 mm, ovate; lateral sepals 6–12.5 × 4.2–6.5 mm, obliquely lanceolate to ovate, acuminate, spreading or reflexed, curving upwards. Petals erect, (5.5)7.5–15 × (2.5)3.5–7 mm, obliquely lanceolate, twisted and folded in the middle, with a distinct acute apex; rather fleshy. Lip 3-lobed, with undivided basal part 2–4.5 mm long; mid-lobe 7.2–16.5 × 1–1.5; side lobes 4–9 × 0.5–1 mm, curving upwards; spur 5–15 mm long, pendent, cylindrical, slightly bifid at apex. Column c. 2.5 mm high; anther connective 3–3.5 mm wide, papillose; loculi diverging, 2.5–3.5 mm long, canals 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmatic arms papillose, 2-lobed from base; upper lobe 2–4 mm long, lower lobe 3–5 mm long.
Habitat:
Montane grassland, usually in drier areas 2200–2440 m.
Distribution:
Ethiopia to Zambia
Images:
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| Botanical Drawing / Herbarium |
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| Photograph copyright Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission. |
