Cardiochilos williamsonii P.J.Cribb, Kew Bull. 32: 184 (1977).
Description:
Plant small, erect, up to 12 cm high, with a stem8 cm long and with long, thick roots emanating from the lower part. Leaves in 2 rows, spreading, falcate, linear, unequally bilobed at the apex, 4–8 cm long, 3–6 mm wide. Inflorescences 3–4 cm long, 1- or 2-flowered; peduncle 1–2.5 cm long; bracts ovate to obovate, 2–3.5 mm long; pedicel with ovary scabrid, 7–13 mm long. Flowers pale green to ochreous orange; dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse, 4 mm long, 2.2 mm wide; lateral sepals connate, obliquely falcate, elliptic, obtuse, 4.5 mm long, 2.5 mm wide; petals oblong-lanceolate, acute, 4 mm long, 2 mm wide; lip auricled at the base, cordate, shortly apiculate, 4 mm long and wide; spur slightly undulate, narrowly cylindric from a wide mouth, 13–16 mm long.
Etymology:
Named in honour of the dentist Graham Williamson who made many interesting finds in Zambia and collected this species in Malawi in 1968.
Habitat:
In montane and submontane forest,on Philippia and other shrubs, usually amongst lichens; 2200–2500 m; flowering in April.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
SW. Tanzania to N. Malawi
References:
World Checklist of Monocotyledons. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots/ accessed 21.03.2017
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