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Brownleea coerulea Harv. ex Lindl., London J. Bot. 1: 16 (1842).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Disa coerulea (Harv. ex Lindl.) Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 119 (1881).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Disa macroceras Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 119 (1881).
Brownleea madagascarica Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 22: 126 (1886).
Brownleea nelsonii Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 262 (1913).
Brownleea woodii Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 263 (1913).
Description:
Thin herbs, 30-50 cm tall, tubers oblong and villous; leaves 3, caulinar, distant, oval-lanceolate (2.2-7 x 1-l.6 cm), amplexicaule and rounded basally. Inflorescence 5-10 flowered; bracts lanceolate, the inferiors longer than the pedicel; flowers very large, rose. Median sepal margins adnate except apically, to the petals, forming a hood, spur long (2-3 cm), cylindrical and narrow; lateral sepals slightly curved-falcate. Labellum very small, spatulate, adnate basally to the column. Column very short and thick. Anther behind the apex, engaging the spur oriface, lobes well separated by a thick connective appendage; channel and cauda nearly 2 mm long; viscidiums semi-spherical, 0.5 mm in diameter. Rostellum with 3 undulations (on the clinandrium), the median projecting, elongated iii front with an acute tooth 1 mm long and the laterals concave and with a shorter tooth, obtuse and notched medially. Stigmas confluent. Pedicel 18-20 mm long.
Habitat:
Near forests, from 1500-2400 m alt;
Phenology:
Flowering in October-May
Distribution:
E. Cape Prov. to Madagascar
References:
Molecular Phylogenetics of Disease (Orchidaceae): A Contribution from Nuclear Ribosomal ITS Sequences Emmanuel J. P. Douzery, American Journal of Botany, Vol. 86, No. 6 (Jun., 1999), pp. 887-899; Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 3, page 3, (1913) Author: (By R. A. ROLFE.)
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Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.