Platycoryne trilobata Summerh., Kew Bull. 13: 67 (1958).
Description:
Terrestrial herb 30–40 cm tall; tubers c.10 × 5 mm, ovoid. Leaves 5–6, spaced along the stem, the 1–2 lowermost sheathing, the upper ones appressed to stem, the intermediate ones ± spreading, up to 4 × 0.7 cm lanceolate, acute, sheathing at base. Inflorescence up to 8 cm long, laxly 1–4-flowered.Flowers green or green and yellow with an orange lip, erect or suberect. Pedicel 25–30 mm long, ovary 10 mm long; bracts 10–25 mm long. Dorsal sepal erect, c. 8 × 5 mm, ovate, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, c. 7.5 × 2.5 mm, obliquely lanceolate, obtuse. Petals erect, adnate to dorsal sepal, 7 × 2.8 mm, obliquely curved oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, sometimes with a minute lobe on front margin. Lip 5 × 4 mm, deflexed, 3-lobed below the middle. Mid-lobe 4 × 2 mm, oblong, convex; side lobes 1.5 × 0.75 mm, reflexed, narrowly ligulate, obtuse; spur c. 3 cm long, pendent, inflated at apex. Anther 3 mm high; canals 2.5 mm long. Stigmatic arms 3 mm long. Rostellum 5 mm long, taller than the anther; mid-lobe c. 2.5 mm high, side lobes very short.
Habitat:
Permanently wet dambo
Distribution:
Angola 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. |
