Mystacidium pulchellum (Kraenzl.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 126 (1918).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Listrostachys pulchella Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 374 (1900).
Description:
Plant dwarf with a short stem to 10 mm long and many fine roots. Leaves 3-5, obovate, fleshy, unequally bilobed at the apex, with rounded lobes, 1.3-5 cm long, 4-10 mm wide. Inflorescences one to several, pendent, 4- to 7-flowered; peduncle wiry, terete; rachis zigzag, very slender; bracts ca. 6 mm apart, ovate, subacute, 1 mm long; pedicel with ovary 12-18 mm long. Flowers white with a bright green anther cap; sepals elliptic, obtuse, 6-7 mm long, 2.5-3.7 mm wide; petals obliquely ovate, subacute, 5.5-7 mm long, 3.5-5 mm wide; lip deeply concave, transversely cordate, obtuse, 4.5-5.5 mm long, 6-8 mm wide; spur tapering from a wide mouth, 15-17 mm long.
Habitat:
Epiphyte in upland rain forest; 1700-2400 m; flowering in December and February.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
SW. Tanzania
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 07.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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