Malaxis prorepens (Kraenzl.) Summerh., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 208 (1934).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Microstylis prorepens Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 17: 48 (1893).
Lisowskia prorepens (Kraenzl.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 121 (1995).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Microstylis katochilos Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 5 (1905).
Malaxis katochilos (Schltr.) Summerh., Kew Bull. 6: 465 (1951 publ. 1952).
Description:
A small to medium-sized terrestrial plant 15 to ± 35 cm. tall; rhizome short to long, slender, creeping. Secondary stems erect, often clustered, up to 15 cm. long, 3 mm. diameter, leafy towards apex. Leaves 3 or rarely more, thin-textured, suberect-spreading, ovate, acute or subacute, up to 6 cm. long and 4.5 cm. broad. Inflorescence erect, 5-16 cm. long, subdensely or densely many-flowered; peduncle slender; raceme narrowly cylindrical; bracts ovate, acute, 1-2.5 mm. long. Flowers very small, flat, purple or green. Dorsal sepal narrowly oblong-elliptic, obtuse or rounded above, 2-2.4 mm. long, 0.7-0.8 mm. broad; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, rounded, 1.6-2 mm. long, 1-1.2 mm. broad. Petals linear-lanceolate, rounded, 1.6-2 mm. long, 0.4-0.5 mm. broad. Lip obovate or subcircular, auriculate at base, 1.3-2 mm. long, 1.7-2 mm. broad, with a central white pubescent area. Column fleshy, 0.6 mm. long.
Habitat:
Riverine vegetation and rain forest, in deep shade 60–1265 m.
Distribution:
Trop. Africa
References:
Flora Tropical East Africa (part 2); La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1); Cribb, P.J. (1978). A synopsis of Malaxis (Orchidaceae) in Africa Kew Bulletin 32(4)
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| Habitat/In situ |
 |
| Photograph© E.Tanner @ Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission. |
