Brachycorythis friesii (Schltr.) Summerh., Kew Bull. 10: 246 (1955).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Platanthera friesii Schltr. in R.E.Fries, Wiss. Erg. Schwed. Rhod.-Kongo Exped. 1: 240 (1916).
Gyaladenia friesii (Schltr.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 38(2): 126 (1921).
Description:
A slender terrestrial herb 8–27 cm tall, with ovoid to cylindrical tuberous roots up to 5 cm long. Stem leafy. Leaves up to 10, 2.5–6 × 2–3.5 cm, linear-lanceolate. Inflorescence laxly (1)3–15-flowered, up to 9 cm long; ovary and pedicel arched, 5–8 mm long; bracts 13–15 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate. Flowers almost white, pale to deep pink or purple with darker marks on lip. Dorsal sepal 4–6.7 × 1.6–2.8 mm, ovate, obtuse; lateral sepals 4.5–7.6 × 2.3–2.6 mm, rather oblique. Petals 3–6.5 × 2–3.3 mm, obliquely ovate, obtuse, attached to column at the base.Lip 4–7 mm long; epichile 5–6.3 × 5.7–7.3 mm, 3-lobed near the base, the mid-lobe quadrate, 2–3 mm long, the side lobes 1–2 mm long, narrow and spreading; spur 2.5–4.5 mm long, slender, blunt, curved. Column 2.5–3.3 mm long.
Habitat:
Shallow soil and seepage areas on granite outcrops, and in open areas in woodland 1200–1650 m.
Distribution:
Tanzania to Angola
