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Bolusiella talbotii (Rendle) Summerh. in J.Hutchinson & J.M.Dalziel, Fl. W. Trop. Afr. 2: 456 (1936).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum talbotii Rendle, Cat. Pl. Oban: 108 (1913).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Bolusiella alinae Szlach., Fl. Cameroun 36: 682 (2001).
Description:
Epiphytic herb with non-branching stems, 2-15 mm long, internodes 0.5-5.0 mm long. Leaves not deeply sulcate on upper surface, 15-44 x 0.5-7 mm, with an acute apex. Inflorescences 11-110 mm long, 2-22 flowered. Floral bracts triangular, 1.7-3.1 x 1.3-2.2 mm, smaller than flowers, apex acuminate, brown, sheathing, and not imbricate in the sterile portion of the inflorescence. Flowers 3.0-5.1 mm long and 2.0-3.5 mm diameter, 1-3 mm apart from one another. Dorsal sepal narrowly triangular, 1.7-4.0 x 0.9-1.2 mm. Lateral sepals triangular, 2.0-4.0 x 0.8-1.3 mm, carinate. Petals triangular, 1.7-3.3 x 0.8-1.3 mm. Lip partially trilobed, 1.6-3.0 mm x 0.9-1.5 mm. Spur cylindrical or conical, at a right angle with the lip, 1.3-2.3 mm long and 0.5-1.0 mm diameter. Column 0.6-1.2 mm long. Ovary, 1.0-1.4 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm diameter.
Etymology:
Rendle (1913) named this species in honor of collectors of the type, Mr and Mrs P.A. Talbot.
Habitat:
Epiphyte in dense humid forests, river banks, inselbergs, undisturbed to disturbed areas and sometimes in direct sunlight. This species is found from 100-500 m elevation.
Phenology:
Flowering peaks in January-March and May-November.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, warm to cool growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
Widespread in tropical Africa: Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Sâo Tomé & Principe, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Annobon, Bioko, Rio Muni), Gabon, Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania.
References:
Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1987 genus only; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 24.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Ehoarn Bidault/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.