Porpax nyassana (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 186: 200 (2018).
Homotypic Names:
Stolzia nyassana Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 565 (1915).
Description:
A small creeping epiphytic herb to 10 cm. high. Pseudobulbs fleshy, somewhat angular-ovoid, dorsiventrally compressed, 1.3 cm. long, 1 cm. high, very closely spaced, forming a mat on substrate, 2-leaved at apex. Leaves oblong-ligulate to oblong-elliptic, fleshy, suberect, to 6 cm. long and 1.3 cm. wide, rounded and notched at apex. Inflorescence erect, densely 2-11-flowered, to 6 cm. long; peduncle somewhat flattened, to 3 cm. long; bracts ovate, 0.5 cm. long, acute. Flowers secund, pale yellow or greenish yellow. Dorsal sepal elliptic-ovate, 0.5 cm. long, 0.25 cm. wide, acute; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 0.5 cm. long, 0.35 cm. wide, acute, joined in basal 'h and forming a saccate base with the column-foot. Petals narrowly lanceolate, 0.45 cm. long, 0.16 cm. wide, acute, margin very minutely ciliate. Lip fleshy, tongue-like, arcuate, V-shaped, canaliculate in cross-section, 0.3 cm. long, 0.15 cm. wide, rounded at apex. Column truncate, 0.15 cm. long, foot arcuate, 0.2 cm. long; anther-cap shortly conical, verrucose.
Habitat:
Submontane forest, epiphytic on mossy branches of trees c. 2000 m.
Distribution
Tanzania
References:
Flora of Tropical East Africa: Orchidaceae, Part 2
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.