Calanthe francoisii (Schltr.) M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit., Phytotaxa 472: 162 (2020)
Homotypic Synonyms:
Gastrorchis francoisii Schltr. in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 168 (1924)
Phaius francoisii (Schltr.) Summerh. in Kew Bull. 17: 558 (1964)
Description:
Plants with the look of Gastrorchis humblotii. Differing by the sepals and petals being slightly narrower (seps.27-32 x 14-20 mm, pets. 16-25 x l0-17 mm): lateral lobes of the labellum rounded (15 x 13 mm), much larger than the median lobe and yellow punctate with red, median lobe subsquare (13 x 13 mm), notched apically and with an incurved apicule apically of a clearer red than the sepals and petals, with the plague of villa basally absent or nearly so basally; the V shaped callus, shorter (4 mm), surrounded by yellow hairs and bearing the same hairs on the branches and in the sinus, not elongated in front but preceded by 3 keels, the 2 laterals smooth and shorter than the median which is crested-verrucose, longer, reaching nearly to the front of the sinus of the median lobe; the column shorter (13-14 mm) and the anther glabrous, rostrum very elongated but straight.
Habitat:
They grow in the damp forests of the Mandraka valleys, at an altitude of 1200-1600 m...
Read more of cultivation of Calanthe francoisii (Schltr.) M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.,
Distribution:
Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/83; Orchid Digest Vol 71 No 1 2007; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009
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Photograph© Dieter Weise Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Dieter Weise Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Dieter Weise Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Dieter Weise Image used with kind permission.