Graphorkis concolor var. alphabetica F.N.Rasm., Bot. Not. 132: 387 (1979).
Homotypic Names:
Graphorkis aiolographis Thouars, Cahier six Planches: t. 3 (1819).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Epidendrum scriptum Thouars, Cahier six Planches: t. 3 (1819), nom. illeg.
Limodorum scriptum Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 46 (1822).
Eulophia scripta (Thouars) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 182 (1833).
Eulophiopsis scripta (Thouars) Pfitzer, Entwurf. Anordn. Orch.: 105 (1887).
Graphorkis scripta (Thouars) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 662 (1891).
Lissochilus scriptus (Thouars) H.Perrier, Fl. Madagasc. 49(2): 37 (1941).
Description:
Pseudobulbs confluent, the older ones aphyllous, bearing sheaths or scars of the sheaths from the base to the apex, ovoid-connical (3-14 x 1-4 cm), the new bulb developing prior to flowering; sheaths more or hest persistant after the falling of the heaves, with the articulation irregularly dentate. Leaves developing prior to flowering, 9-13, the inferiors reduced with their sheaths, the others more or less elongated (8-11 x 0.8-1.4 cm), graminiform and acute. Inflorescence 22-65 cm long; peduncle 10-45 cm long, bearing 3-5 reddish sheaths; panicle loosely many flowered, with 3-9 branches, the lowest of which is always branched secondarily; bracts narrow, reddish, 3-8 mm long; flowers thin, 15-25 mm, with the flowers 12-15 mm across, maculate with small red spots, the petals and sepals of a light greenish. Sepals and petals at most twice an long as wide; labellum trilobed, the lateral lobes rounded, embracing the column; median lobe obovate, crenulate or emarginate; spur straight, 3mm. long. Column 6-10 mm long.
Habitat:
Epiphytes, in trees or sometimes (Typhonodorum lindleyanum) of other long-lived herbs; along the coast; flowering in October-December.
Distribution:
Seychelles (Silhouette), Réunion, Comoros, Madagascar
References:
Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.W. & Rasmussen, F.N. (eds.) 2014. Genera Orchidacearum Volume 5: Epidendroideae (Part two); page 71 ff., Oxford: Oxford University Press; Govaerts, R. et al. 2016. Graphorkis concolor var. alphabetica in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 22.07.2019; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81
Images:
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Habitat/In situ

Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphorkis ecalcarata (Schltr.) Summerh., Kew Bull. 8: 161 (1953).
Homotypic Names:
Eulophiopsis ecalcarata Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 332 (1916).
Lissochilus ecalcaratus (Schltr.) H.Perrier, in Fl. Madag. 49(2): 36 (1941).
Description:
Pseudobulbs very tightly appressed, ovoid-ellipsoid (4-6 x 1.5 cm), the older bulbs aphyllous and enveloped h the more or less persistant sheaths, the most recent developing prior to flowering, bearing 4- 5 leaves, articulate medially to the sheath, falling prior to fruiting and from the base of the flower scape; articulation ob the sheath irregular but not dentate; limbus graminiform, linear-acute (20-25 cm x 7-8 mm). Inflorescence racemiform or paniculate, longly pedicelate, loose and with the flowers more or less numerous: bracts lanceolate, shorter than the pedicel; flowers generally 2 cm long, greenish punctate with red, the labellum small, maculate with red. Sepals oval-obtuse, slightly attenuate basally. Petals similar, but slightly wider, labellum 7 mm long, compressed basally, trilobed; lateral lobes marginal, upright and obtuse; median lobe transverse-arched, with 2 acute, inferior angles, rounded and apiculate apically; spur absent. Column 4.5 mm long. Pedicel l cm, long.
Habitat:
Epiphyte, from eastern forests, 0-600 m alt., flowering in October-January.
Cultivation:
Warm to cool growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
NE. Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1938/85; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; African Orchids: XXI V. S. Summerhayes, Kew Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 1 (1953), pp. 129-162
Images:
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In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphorkis lurida (Sw.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 662 (1891).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Limodorum luridum Sw., Neues J. Bot. 1: 87 (1805).
Eulophia lurida (Sw.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 182 (1833).
Angraecum luridum (Sw.) Lindl. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1: 98 (1840).
Eulophiopsis lurida (Sw.) Schltr., Orchideen: 348 (1914).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Eulophia longicollis Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 132 (1862).
Eulophia virilis Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 132 (1862).
Description:
Epiphytic herb. Pseudobulbs 3–9 × 1–3 cm, conical-ovoid or cylindrical-fusiform, ribbed, 3–5-noded, yellow, set close together on a woody rhizome; roots c. 2 mm in diameter, clinging to the substrate.Leaves 20–40 cm long, including the petiole, 1.5–4 cm wide, narrowly elliptic, acute or acuminate, plicate, deciduous, articulated to a persistent sheathing base; median and some secondary nerves hard and remaining as spines after the lamina is shed. Inflorescence arising from the base of a pseudobulb when the plant is leafless, erect, paniculate with spreading branches, many-flowered; scape with 3–4 sheaths. Pedicel 8–9 mm long; ovary 3 mm long; bracts 1–3 mm long. Flowers yellowish flushed with purple, particularly on the outer surface; lip with deep yellow mid-lobe. Sepals 5–7 × 1.5–2 mm, oblanceolate, subacute. Petals 4–6 × 2.5–3 mm, elliptic, obtuse. Lip 4–6 × 3–3.5 mm, 3-lobed; side lobes erect, oblong, rounded; mid-lobe c. 2 × 3 mm, bifid or retuse; disk with 2 fleshy keels; spur 4–6 mm long, bent forward, obtuse or bifid at the apex. Column 3 mm long, erect, oblong, with 2 auricles at the base.
Notes:
A second species, Graphorkis scripta Thouars, was supposedly collected in Mozambique by John Forbes (the specimen data lacks date and precise locality).However, since no further specimens of this Madagascan species have been recorded for Mozambique there is a strong possibility that Forbes collected it in Madagascar or the Comoros when he visited these Islands between December 1822 and January 1823.
Habitat:
Riverine forest, often in forks of trees c. 1300 m.
Distribution:
Trop. Africa
References:
Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.W. & Rasmussen, F.N. (eds.) 2014. Genera Orchidacearum Volume 5: Epidendroideae (Part two); page 71 ff., Oxford: Oxford University Press; Govaerts, R. et al. 2016. Graphorkis lurida in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 22.07.2019; Flora of West Tropical Africa, Vol 3, Part 1; La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 547 - 548.
Images:
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In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Nicholas Case Wightman Image used with kind permission.

Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphorkis medemiae (Schltr.) Summerh., Kew Bull. 8: 161 (1953).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Eulophia medemiae Schltr., Ann. Inst. Bot.-Géol. Colon. Marseille, III, 1: 173 (1913).
Eulophiopsis medemiae (Schltr.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 422 (1915).
Lissochilus medemiae (Schltr.) H.Perrier, in Fl. Madag. 49(2): 38 (1941).
Description:

Pseudobulbs very tightly compressed, ovoid-oblong (6 x 2 cm), grayish, aphyllous, the most recent enveloped by the white, fiberous, coriaceous sheaths, truncate with the spinulescent articulation, the new bulb developing prior to flowering. Leaves appearing 3 months prior to the flowers, falling an soon as the new bulb has matured, graminiform, very snarrow (6 mm at most) and very acute. Inflorescence thin, 25 cm long; peduncle short, with 2-3 small sheaths, panicle with 3-5 branches, loosely multi flowered, bracts small, acute, not more than one-tenth the length of the pedicel; flowers 2.5 cm long, sepals and petals brown with the labellum small. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, 9 mm long, slightly attenuate below the middle; petals nearly similar. Labellum (7 x 3.5 mm) compressed basally, trilobed to nearly the center, the lateral lobes small and obtuse, the median lobe much larger, widely elliptic and very obtuse, undulate-crenulate marginally; provided basally with 3 longitudinal keels, and on the median lobe with 6 small, short, diverging, lateral keels; spur very short, only slightly visible. Column small, 3.5 mm long. Pedicel 15 mm long.
Habitat:

Epiphytes on the trunks of Medemia nobilis; found in the savannahs with Medemia from 0-300 m alt.; flowering in August-September; December-March.
Distribution:

NW. Madagascar
Images:
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Botanical Drawing / Herbarium

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