Rhipidoglossum thomense (la Croix & P.J.Cribb) Farminhão & Stévart, Phytotaxa 349: 253 (2018).
Homotypic Names:
Cribbia thomensis la Croix & P.J.Cribb, Kew Bull. 52: 745 (1997).
Angraecopsis summerhayesii R.Rice, Prelim. Checklist & Survey Subtrib. Aerangidinae (Orchidac.): 20 (2005).
Description:
A small epiphytic herb with a short stem, up to 4 cm long; roots elongate, 1 mm in diameter. Leaves 5 in upper part of stem, twisted at base to lie in one plane, linear- oblanceolate, unequally bluntly bilobed at the apex, 6 - 10 x 0.8 - 1 cm, articulated to conduplicate persistent leaf bases. Inflorescences lateral, spreading, 6 - 8 cm long, laxly 6- to 10-flowered; peduncle and rhachis very slender, wiry; bracts triangular, acute, amplexicaul, 1 - 1.5 mm long. Flowers pure white; pedicel and ovary 5 - 7 mm long. Dorsal sepal cucullate, ovate, acute, 4 x 1.5 mm; lateral sepals spreading, linear- lanceolate, acute, 4 x 1.5 mm. Petals spreading-recurved, falcate-lanceolate, acute, 4 x 2 mm. Lip deflexed, ovate, shortly acuminate, ecallose, 5 x 3.5 mm; spur incurved- pendent, cylindrical, slightly inflated at apex, 8 - 9 mm long. Column green, c. 1 mm long, with a short foot; rostellum 3-lobed, the lobes more or less equal in length; pollinia 2, each attached by linear stipe to an elliptic viscidium.
Habitat:
Epiphyte in montane forest; 2000 - 2100 m.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cold growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
Sao Tome.
References:
Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 25.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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