Porpax macrantha Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 186: 200 (2018).
Homotypic Names:
Stolzia grandiflora P.J.Cribb, Kew Bull. 40: 405 (1985).
Description:
A creeping epiphytic herb; pseudobulbs slender clavate, rhizomatous, rather wiry; swollen below each pair of leaves, 2-4 cm long, up to 3 mm diam.; roots emerging along each growth. Leaves rather fleshy, elliptic to obovate, rounded at apex, shortly petiolate below, 1-2-7 x 0-6-1 cm. Inflorescence terminal, 1-flowered; peduncle short 3-8 mm long; bract ovate, acute, 2-5 mm long. Flowers pale yellow or greenish yellow with a pale brownish red lip; ovary 3-4 mm long. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, acute, 9-10-5 x 2-5-3 mm; lateral sepals recurved, falcate, lanceolate, acute, 8 x 3-5 mm; forming with the column-foot a short incurved-conical mentum 2-4 mm long. Petals falcate, linear lanceolate, acute, 9 x 1.5-2 mm. Lip very fleshy, recurved, entire, ovate, subacute, with an obscure fleshy knob-like callus at base 4 x 2 mm. Column short, 1 mm long; anther minutely verrucose; pollinia 8, of 2 sizes, flattened pyriform; column-foot incurved, 2.5 mm long.
Habitat:
Epiphytic in montane forest of Olinia aequipetala Nuxia congestiflora, Hagenia abyssinica and Myrica salicifolia preferring to grow on the many trunks of the last; 2500-2850 m.
Distribution:
WC. Trop. Africa, Ethiopia
References:
Additions to the Orchid Flora of Tropical Africa P. J. Cribb, Kew Bulletin, Vol. 40, No. 2 (1985), pp. 399-419; THE ORCHID FLORA OF THE MBAM MINKOM HILLS (YAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON) Murielle Simo, Belgian Journal of Botany, Vol. 142, No. 2 (2009), pp. 111-123
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.