Holothrix arachnoidea (A.Rich.) Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 107 (1881).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Peristylus arachnoideus A.Rich., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., II, 14: 267 (1841).
Platanthera arachnoidea (A.Rich.) Engl., Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1891: 179 (1892).
Holothrix richardii Rolfe in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 191 (1897), nom. illeg.
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Holothrix vatkeana Rchb.f., J. Bot. 14: 346 (1876).
Description:
A terrestrial herb, up to 27 cm tall; tubers cm long, 0.4-0.8 cm diam., ovoid to ellipsoid. Leaves 2, up to 4 cm long and broad, basal, lanceolate to broadly ovate or orbicular, acute or apiculate, covered on upper surface and margins with long, soft hairs up to 2 mm long. Inflorescence erect, densely many-flowered; scape densely long hairy, mostly lacking any sterile bracts; bracts lanceolate, very acute, with long hairs. Flowers very small, second, glabrous, green ? flushed with violet or purple; ovary glabrous or sparsely hairy. Sepals I. 5-2.5 mm long, ovate, acute, the laterals very oblique. Petals 2-3 mm long, lanceolate-ligulate to ligulate, fleshy in apical half. Lip 2-2-3.2 mm long, narrowly ovate, 3-lobed in the upper half or third; lobes nearly equal in length; spur 1 - 5 mm long, conical-cylindric, slightly incurved.
Habitat:
In upland grassland; 1300-2300 m.
Notes:
Holothrix arachnoideias characterized by its short, conical, backwardly-directed spur and leaves and stalks which are covered with thin, relatively long hairs.
Distribution:
NE. Trop. Africa to Kenya, SW. Arabian Pen.
