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Holothrix aphylla (Forssk.) Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 119 (1881).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Orchis aphylla Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 156 (1775).
Habenaria aphylla (Forssk.) R.Br. ex Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 690 (1826).
Platanthera aphylla (Forssk.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 289 (1835).
Deroemera aphylla (Forssk.) Schltr. & Rendle, J. Bot. 33: 277 (1895).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Deroemera acuminata Rendle & Schltr., J. Bot. 33: 277 (1895).
Holothrix calva Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 386 (1912).
Holothrix ledermannii Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 385 (1912).
Deroemera calva (Kraenzl.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 486 (1915).
Deroemera ledermannii (Kraenzl.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 486 (1915).
Description:

A small terrestrial herb, 6-27 cm tall; tubers up to 2-5 cm long, I-6 cm diam., ovoid to ellipsoid. Leaves 2, up to 3 X 4 cm, basal, suborbicular to reniform, usually shrivelled at time of flowering, glabrous. Inflorescence erect, many-flowered; scape with numerous lanceolate acuminate sheaths, the lower ones overlapping, glabrous. Flowers white, tinged somewhat with blue or purple, secund. Sepals 2 5-4 mm long, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, the laterals oblique. Petals 4-8 mm long, narrowly ovate or oblong, ? 3-lobed at the apex; mid lobe papillose and linear, often longer than the side lobes. Lip 4-8 X 2-5-6-5 mm, orbicular or almost transversely elliptic, 3-lobed at the apex; side lobes broad or rounded or rarely acute; mid lobe often much longer, linear, all ?:1 papillose; spur 4-9 mm long, I incurved, slender and tapering to the apex.
Habitat:

In upland grassland; I500-2300 m.
Distribution:

Yemen; Ethiopia, Uganda, Zaire, Cameroun and N Nigeria.

Images:
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Botanical Drawing / Herbarium

Photograph copyright Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.