Nervilia affinis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 116 (1924).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Nervilia perrieri Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 117 (1924).
Nervilia pilosa Schltr. & H.Perrier, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 118 (1924).
Description:
Tubers subglobulous; leaf with a petiole to 4 cm long, sheathed by 3 apiculate sheaths, limbus sub orbicular (4.5 cm in diameter) and with 5 short, apiculate angles, cordate basally and sprinkled with hairs above. Scape 1 flowered, 10 cm long generally, glabrous and clad with 2 apiculate sheaths; bracts oblong, apiculate, shorter than the pedicel; flower with the sepals and petals red, with the labellum white, tinted with red basally and on the margins. Sepals and petals linear-lanceolate (2-2.4 x 0.4-0.5 cm), 3 veined, acute apically and slightly attenuate toward the base. Labellum (17-20 x 14-15 mm), trilobed apically, the lobes elongated, but the laterals with their margins entire and half as wide as the median, with its margins crenulate and undulate-pleated; upper surface glabrous and without any keels. Column 8 mm tall, 1.2 mm thick basally and 2 mm thick apically. Anther oscillating, with the ends of the lobes extrorse and anterior; thread thin, 1.5 mm long: connective appendage very thick behind in a wide connical appendage, attenuate with the thread and presenting the 2 lobes at its front apex; lobes each with a single pollina, tetrads unilateral, arranged in a semi-flabel and tipped with a viscidium; staminodes thin and very obtuse. Ovary (without the pedicel) 5 mm long.
Habitat:
In forests from 1400 m alt.; terrestrial: flowering in October-November.
Distribution:
Réunion, Madagascar
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. |
