Genus Microcoelia

Microcoelia smithii (Rolfe) Summerh., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 11: 148 (1943).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum smithii Rolfe, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 37 (1895).
Gussonea smithii (Rolfe) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 94 (1918).
Description:
A dwarfish epiphytic plant. Stem short, (2-)3-9 (—18)x 1—2 mm. Scale-leaves ± rostrate, up to 2 mm long, with c. 3 nerves. Roots few, ± radially spreading, usually closely attached to the substrate, ± densely crowded, unbranched, ± terete, smooth, up to 15 cm x 1-1,5 mm. Inflorescence(s) ± erect spreading, up to 50 mm long, up to 7—12(—18) simultaneously, usually dense, each with up to 12 flowers; peduncle short, up to 15 mm long; rachis ± flexuose, terete, smooth; bracts ± loosely sheathing, acute to subacute, with 3 nerves, up to 1.6 mm long. Pedicel minute, up to 0.5 mm long; ovary ± straight, dis-tally furrowed, (0.8-)1.3-2.2 x (0.3-)0.5-0.7 mm. Flowers horizontal to ± erect, up to 4.5 mm long including ovary and pedicel; tepals white; spur whitish with ± greenish apex. Glandular hairs very sparse, mainly scattered on rachis, base of bracts, pedicel and ovary, basal parts of the perianth. Perianth ± similar, narrowly ovate to ovate, acute to subacute, distinctly thickened along the central nerve. Dorsal sepal (1.2—)2.0—2.7 (-3.0) x (0.4-)0.7-0.9 mm. Lateral sepals slightly asymmetric, (1.3—)2.3—2.7 (-3.2) x (0.4-) 0.6-0.8 mm. Petals slightly asymmetric, thin, (1.0-)2.0-2.6 x (0.4—)0.6-0.8 mm. Labellum ± navicular; mid-lobe narrowly ovate, acute, ± folded, with 3 nerves; side-lobes small, ± oblong, (1.2-)2.3-2.8 x 0.6-0.9 mm; spur ± perpendicular to slightly decurved, conical to cylindrical, obtuse (1.0—) 1.6—2.2 mm long and 0.3-0.4 mm at the apex. Column short, truncate, outer sides ± concave, (0.2-)0.4-0.6 mm long, (0.3-)0.5-0.7 mm high; androclinium shallowly excavated, with a small hump in the centre, rostellum lobes ± incumbent to perpendicular, ± rectangular, up to 0.2 mm long. Anther ± bivalved, hemispherical in side view, tapering into a truncate short and thin rim, ± rounded-apiculate at the very apex, 0.5-0.7 x 0.5-0.6 mm. Pollinia asymmetric; in side view ± elliptical, (190—)250—310 x (150—) 190—220 /µm; in median section slightly compressed, ± elliptic, 140-160 pm thick. Stipes spathulate apically, sigmoid 270-390 pm long, 80—110(—140) µm wide at the apex; viscidium ± rectangular, posterior end rounded, 220-270 x 110-140 pm, transparent. Capsule ± oblong, 3.5-4.0 x c. 2 mm; pedicel short, up to 0.5 mm long. Seeds ± cylindrical to fusiform or ± bottle-shaped; testa cells narrowly elongate (in a dry state), processes club-shaped and more sparsely hook-shaped; anticlinal walls furrowed, (315-1350-410 (—430) x (23—) 30-60 µm (40 dry seeds measured).
Habitat:
Dry deciduous forest, altitude range c. 600 m.
Flowering period:
Mainly during the dry season.
Notes:
Evidently allied to icrocoelia globulosa (Hochst.) L.Jonss.. of which it may prove to be a local race or variety. It may be distinguished by its smaller size, more slender inflorescences, smaller flowers and narrow perianth members including the lip. In general floral structure there is close agreement between the two species.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot to warm growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
Kenya to Malawi
References:
Orchids of East Africa Piers 1968; A Monograph of the Genus Microcoelia [Orchidaceae] Jonsson 1981; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; Orchids of Kenya Stewart 1996; African Orchids in the wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 2 Pope 1998; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 3 2003; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and Campbell 2006; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 03.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph©Backmann. Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph©Backmann. Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.	Photograph©Backmann. Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Herbarium Jany Renz Image used with kind permission.

Microcoelia sanfordii L.Jonss., Symb. Bot. Upsal. 23: 129 (1981).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Encheiridion sanfordii (L.Jonss.) Senghas, Schlechter Orchideen 1(16-18): 1066 (1986).
Description:
Epiphytic plant. Stem short, up to 5 mm long, 1-2 mm in diameter. Scale-leaves acute to acuminate, with c. 7 nerves, up to c. 3 mm long. Roots relatively few, slender to ± stout, variously spreading, ± twisted and undulating, few branched, ± attached to the substrate, ± flattened, smooth, up to c. 70 cm long, (1.5-) 2-3 (-5) mm in widest diameter. Inflorescence(s) ± erect to pendulous, up to 7 cm long, one at the time (might well be more?), usually ± dense, with up to 10 flowers; peduncle short, up to 15 mm long; rachis straight or indistinctly flexuose, ± terete; bracts sheathing, acute, 1-nerved, 1.0-2.3 mm long. Pedicel short, ± straight to distinctly twisted, up to c. 4 mm long; ovary slightly curved, faintly furrowed, up to c. 1.5 mm long, 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter. Flowers ± horizontal, up to c. 11 mm long including ovary and pedicel, whitish, lateral sepals white with a central greenish band, lip white with a greenish ± triangular spot in the centre, spur apically orange-beige as the anther. Glandular hairs sparse, on the pedicel, ovary and at the base of the perianth. Dorsal sepal distinctly hoodshaped, ± elliptic, acute, apex beak-shaped, 3-nerved, 3.2-5.8 x 1.6-2.0 mm. Lateral sepals distinctly curved, ± ovate, acute, subapiculate, 3-nerved, 3.2-5.7 x 1.0-2.0 mm. Petlas distinctly curved, ± obovate, obtuse to subacute, 1-nerved, occasionally with few branches, 2.5-4.7 x 1.0-2.0 mm. Labellum 3-lobed; mid-lobe distinctly spathulate, in outline ± cordate when outspread or ± crescent-shaped when folded, margin uneven, subacute, 5-nerved, mid-nerve area ± thickened; side-lobes erect, oblong, the inner sides distinctly thickened, the thickenings in plane with the lobes or slightly protruding, wedge-shaped, spur entrance ± narrowed by an U-shaped ridge-like extension from the thickenings, 2.3-4.5 x 1.9-4.7 mm, mid-lobe alone up to 3 mm long; spur long, ± straight in early anthesis, at late anthesis ± incurved apically, tapering to a distinct, ± discoidal apical inflation, 4.4—7.2 mm long. Column short, distinctly recurved, ± truncate, dorsally slightly prolonged into a ± acute beak, 1.3-1.9 mm long, 1.3-1.8 mm high; androclinium shallowly excavated, ± horizontally orientated; rostellum lobes very long, acute, inserted just below androclinium, distinctly bifid at the outermost 1/5 of the total length, variously connate to the base, apically ± pappilose, ± porrect in anthesis, in early anthesis pointing into spur mouth, c. 4.6-5.6 mm long, at the base each lobe c. 0.2 mm wide. Anther hemispherical in side view, distinctly bival-vate dorsally, in back view heart-shaped, tapering to a straight, short, ± acute or subapiculate apex with a ± erose margin, c. 2.5-3.2 x 1.0-2.7 mm. Pollinia asymmetric, in side view ± orbicular to obovate, up to c. 1.2 x 1.0 mm, in median section ± obovate to elliptic, c. 0.8 mm thick. Stipes long, ligulate, ± straight; apical parts free with a distinct conical ± massive head-like apex, channelled; basal part connate with the viscidium to its apex, indistinctly concave, c. 4.8 mm long (total length up to 6 mm); viscidium ensiform, base truncate, c. 2.1 x 0.5 mm. Capsule long, ± narrowly ellipsoid, slightly curved, c. 33 xc. 4 mm,pedicel short, ± straight, c. 4 mm long (one capsule seen). Seeds ± cylindrical, bottle-shaped to fusiform, testa cells narrowly elongate (in a dry state), with club-shaped and more sparsely with hook-shaped processes; anticlinal walls sulcate with few to many finer striations, terminal ends slightly protruding, (270-)330-440-460) x 50-70 µm (25 dry seeds measured).
Etymology:
It was named in honour of the American botanist, William Sanford, who made many contributions to the study of orchids and their ecology in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Habitat:
Epiphyte, mainly on the tips of branches, in riverine forest; 800-1000 m.
Flowering period:
Recorded from the beginning of the early rainy season.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
E. Cameroon
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 03.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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Microcoelia physophora (Rchb.f.) Summerh., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 11: 148 (1943).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum physophorum Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 77 (1881).
Gussonea physophora (Rchb.f.) Ridl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 492 (1885).
Angorchis physophora (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 651 (1891).
Epidorchis physophora (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 660 (1891).
Mystacidium physophorum (Rchb.f.) T.Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 54 (1894).
Description:
Stem short or ± long, (8-) 15-20 (-50) x 2-3(-4) mm. Scale-leaves rostrate, up to 5 mm long, with c. 5 nerves. Roots few to many, ± radially spreading, ± densely crowded, mostly characteristically attached to the substrate, forminga ± conical tuft, mostly unbranched, ± flattened to rounded triangular in transverse section or ± terete at the apical free parts, irregularly undulating, ± smooth when wet, ± uneven when dry, pneumathodes clearly visible as whitish linear spots in both conditions, up to 35 cm X (1.5—)3(—5) mm. Inflorescence(s) short, ± erect-spreading, up to (10—)25(—50) mm long, up to 6(—15) simultaneously, usually dense, with up to 15 flowers, ± concentrated at the apex of rachis; peduncle distinct, up to 9(— 13) mm long: rachis ± straight to indistinctly flexuose, ± angular, smooth; bracts distinctly sheathing, acute or subacute, 1-nerved, up to 2 mm long. Pedicel long, ± straight, slightly furrowed, 5-9(-13) mm long, whitish; ovary ± straight to slightly curved, furrowed, lobes obtusely keeled. 2.3-4.8 x 0.5-1.3 mm, pale brownish. Flowers ± erect-spreading, up to 8 mm long including ovary; tepals whitish with a greenish central band on the sepals; labellum with a whitish mid-lobe, side-lobes greenish, anther and column greenich. Glandular hairs very sparse, mainly distributed on peduncle and rachis, base of bracts, pedicel and ovary, basal parts of the perianth to the apex of the spur. Dorsal sepal hooded, ovate, ± acute, with 3 nerves, slightly thickened along the central nerve, 1.7-2.6 x 1.0-1.7 mm. Lateral sepals asymmetric, slightly convex, ovate, acute, subapiculate, with 3 nerves, slightly thickened along the central nerve, connate below ovary, 2.2-3.1 x 1.6-2.2 mm. Petals ovate, obtuse, 1-nerved, 1.4—2.5x0.7-1.1 mm. Labellum 3-lobed; mid-lobe tongue-shaped, ± obtuse, with 3 nerves; side-lobes indistinct, rounded, fleshy, extended over spur mouth closing it considerably, 1.1-2.7 (—3.1) x 0.4—1.1 mm, mid-lobe alone up to 0.7-2.0 x 0.4— 1.0 mm; spur perpendicular or occasionally apically curved towards ovary, cylindrical, tapering into a distinct ± inflated, obtuse apex, 7.5-9.5(-l 1.0) mm long, apical inflation up to 1.8 mm in diameter (side view). Column short, 0.7-1.1 mm long and high, greenish; androclinium distinctly excavated, midridge ± prominent; rostellum lobes ± porrect, concave, ± wedge-shaped, smooth, up to 0.6 mm long; stigmatic area rounded-oblong. Anther hemispherical in side view, with a short ± recurved beak-shaped apex, 0.8-1.0 mm long and wide, greenish. Pollinia asymmetric; in side view ± obovate to elliptic, (420-)440-540 (-580) x (250-)280-400(-440) pm: in median section ± obovate, up to 310 µm thick. Stipes ligulate, spathulate apically, sigmoid, 470-750(-940) pm long, 130—200(—250) µm wide at the apex; viscidium broadly elliptic to rounded-oblong, distinctly notched at both ends, ± convex, membranous, (300-)360-500 x 300-340 µm. Capsule cylindrical to narrowly ellipsoid. 10-16 x 4—5 mm; pedicel distinct, up to 13 mm long. Seeds bottle-shaped to ± cylindrical, occasionally ± fusiform, testa cells narrowly elongate (in a dry state), with small club-shaped or loop-shaped processes; anticlinal walls smooth to ± sulcate, indistinctly striated or not, terminal ends only indistinctly elongated, (210-)300-375 x 50-80 µ.
Habitat:
Coastal bushland-woodland extending up in woodland, epiphytic in exposed to more or less shaded conditions, often firmly attached on larger branches. Altitude. 0-500 m.
Flowering period:
From the latter part of the dry season to the early rainy season.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot growing epiphyte.
Notes:
This species, which has not previously been recorded from Africa proper, can be recognised by the rather flattened roots, the long spur thickened at the apex and the narrow ligulate (Meet and concave lip lamina. The mouth of the spur is much narrowed by the infolding of the edges on either side. The androelinium slopes upwards somewhat but the porrect rostellum is comparatively short. The two pyriform pollinia are attached, by a stipes of moderate length and somewhat widened above, to a large heart-shaped viscidium.
Distribution:
SE. Kenya to E. Tanzania (incl. Zanzibar), N. & NW. Madagascar
References:
Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1939; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; A Monograph of the Genus Microcoelia [Orchidaceae] Jonsson 1981; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009 WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 03.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.

Microcoelia perrieri (Finet) Summerh., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 11: 147 (1943).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Rhaphidorhynchus perrieri Finet, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 89 (1909).
Angraecum perrieri (Finet) Schltr., Ann. Inst. Bot.-Géol. Colon. Marseille, III, 1: 198 (1913).
Gussonea perrieri (Finet) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 425 (1915).
Description:
Epiphytic or occasionally epilithic plant. Stem up to 3—55(— 100) x 1.5—4 mm, occasionally stout and proliferous. Scale-leaves ± rostrate, up to 8 mm long, with 4-8 nerves. Roots few to many, often rather stout, variously spreading, densely to loosely crowded, mostly closely adnate to the substrate, sometimes with few side branches, ± flattened to rounded triangular in TS, apical free parts ± terete and slightly twisting, smooth, up to 40 cm x(1.0-)1.5-3 mm. Inflorescence(s) mostly characteristically appressed to the stem, pointing forwards or slightly spreading, up to (30—)95 mm long, up to 40 simultaneously, usually dense, each with up to 26 flowers; peduncle short, up to 15 mm long; rachis straight, ± terete, smooth; bracts sheathing, ovate, acute or subacute, 1-nerved, up to 2.0 mm long. Pedicel long, ± terete, 3.2-6.6(-7.4) mm long; ovary ± straight, slightly furrowed, 1-2x0.3-0.6 mm, reddish brown. Flowers ± horizontal, up to 5.5 mm long including ovary and pedicel, whitish. Glandular hairs very sparsely present, at the base of bracts and tepals, ± concentrated in the furrows of the ovary. Dorsal sepal hooded, ovate, ± acute, apiculate, with 3 nerves, (1.4—) 1.7-2.3 x 0.9-1.4 mm. Lateral sepals asymmetric, slightly convex, ovate, ± acute, apiculate, with 3 nerves, thickened along the central nerve, (1.9-)2.1-2.8x (1.4—) 1.6—2.3(—2.5) mm. Petals ± obovate, acute, ± apiculate, with 1 nerve, 1.2-1.9x0.7-1.2(-l.6) mm. Labellum 3-lobed; mid-lobe ± semiorbicular when outspread, subapiculate or not, ± folded in natural position, with 5 nerves, lateral nerves with few branches; sidelobes rounded, slightly thickened, cup-shaped around the spur mouth, 2.5-3.2 (—3.5) x (1.2—) 1.4-2.l (-2.4) mm; spur ± perpen dicular, slightly curved, cylindrical, tapering into a ± distinct obtusely conical inflated apex, (5.1—)5.4-6.1 (-6.3) mm long, inflated apex 0.9-1.2 mm in diameter. Column short, ± pointing dorsally, 0.4-0.6(-0.8) mm long, (0.5-)0.6-0.9 mm high, with a prominent ± circular stigmatic area; androclinium distinctly excavated, mid-ridge ± prominent; rostellum lobes slightly protruding, obtusely deltoidal, ± verrucose at the very apex, up to 0.5 mm long. Anther hemispherical in side view, tapering into a short ± obtuse prolongation, in back view rounded triangular, 0.8-1.1 x 0.7— 1.0(—1.1) mm, greenish. Pollinia subglobose; in side view slightly asymmetric, irregular, ± obovate to elliptic, (360-)380-490(-500) x (330-) 340-460(-500) µm: in median section obovate to elliptic, up to 400 µm thick. Stipes ligulate, slightly spathulate towards the apex, ± sigmoid, (580-)590-710(-780) µm long, (90-) 100-160(-200) µm wide apically; viscidium elliptic to obovate, ± convex, 310-470 x 170-230 µm, membranous. Capsule ellipsoid to cylindrical, 3.4-5.5 x 1.6-1.8 mm, reddish brown; pedicel distinct, up to 7.5 mm long. Seed ± bottle-shaped, testa cells narrowly elongate, with distinct club-shaped processes; anticlinal walls ± sulcate, with finer striations or not, c. 450x40 pm (only one seed from an old capsule has been seen).
Habitat:
Epiphyte of branches; from tropical forests between 0-100 m alt.
Flowering period:
Mainly during the dry season.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot growing epiphyte.
Notes:
Well characterised by the long slender rhachis and hair-like pedicels and the almost cylindrical spur about three times as long as the lip lamina and slightly constricted about one-third below the apex. The rostellum and stipes are short and the general structure strongly resembles that of Microcoelia hirschbergii Summerhayes described above. Microcoelia perrieri, however, has much longer inflorescences, the perianth members more unequal especially the very oblique lateral sepals, the spur longer and constricted nearer the apex, and a relatively smaller viscidium.
Distribution:
N. & W. Madagascar
References:
A Monograph of the Genus Microcoelia [Orchidaceae] Jonsson 1981; African Orchids In the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and Campbell 2006; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 03.03-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.