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Nervilia kotschyi var. kotschyi.
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Pogonia abyssinica Chiov., Ann. Bot. (Rome) 9: 136 (1911).
Nervilia sakoae Jum. & H.Perrier, Ann. Fac. Sci. Marseille 21: 194 (1912).
Nervilia diantha Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 553 (1915).
Nervilia abyssinica (Chiov.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16: 356 (1920).
Description:
Tubers wider than tall (14 x 32 mm); leaves flat against the soil, sessile or sub sessile, limbus orbicular (7-7.5 cm in diameter), cordate basally, shortly acuminate-acute apically. Scape 20-30 cm long, bearing 4-8 distant sheaths with acute limbuses; inflorescence loosely 5-8 flowered; bracts acute; flowers 15-20 mm long, very longly (5 mm) pedicellate, of a yellowish-green, veins red. Sepals and petals oval-lanceolate, acute, slightly attenuate toward the base, the petals (12 mm) slightly shorter than the sepals (15 mm). Labellum 15 mm long and 11 mm wide near the apex, obviously trilobed, lateral lobes dentiform and rounded, the median longer with its margins undulate and incurved; provided basally with 2 shortly pubescent keels. Column 6-7 mm tall, l mm thick basally and 2 mm thick apically. Anther with a thin oscillating Strap and the lobes extrorse and anterior, but provided as in N. renschiana with a connective appendage topped with an acute pad in front; lobes bidentate apically, each with 2 fleshy, linear pollina; without viscidiums; staminodes obtuse, to about half the length of the anther. Rostellum small, in an obtuse strap, 0.5 mm tall medially.
Derivation of specific name:
kotschyi: after Karl Georg Theodor Kotschy (1813-1866), Austrian botanical explorer and plant collector in the Orient.
Habitat:
In the Sakoa (Sclerocarya caffra Sonn.) almost exclusively; from 0-500 m alt.; flowering in October-November; December-May.
Distribution:
Trop. Africa, Madagascar
References:
La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1); La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam; Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA
Images:
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Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.