Stenoglottis fimbriata var. fimbriata.
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Stenoglottis zambesiaca Rolfe in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 190 (1897).
Stenoglottis fimbriata var. saxicola Kraenzl., Orchid. Gen. Sp. 1: 567 (1898).
Stenoglottis fimbriata subsp. saxicola (Kraenzl.) G.McDonald, Orchids S. Africa 39(2): 11 (2008).
Diagnostic characters:
Varieties of S. fimbriata can be distinguished by a combination of their leaf and labellum morphology. The leaves of S. fimbriata var. fimbriata are undulate and variably spotted (from completely unspotted to heavily spotted with brown or maroon; whereas in S. fimbriata var. modesta they are always entire, never spotted and somewhat broader and fleshier than those of the nominal variety. In S. fimbriata var. fimbriata, the side lobes of the labellum are also highly variable (in width and degree of fimbriation; but in S. fimbriata var. modesta they are always narrow and entire. Flowers of S. fimbriata var. fimbriata are completely spurless, the base of the labellum being consistently flat and smooth, whereas in S. fimbriata var. modestathe tissue at the base of the labellum is slightly protruding, forming what appears to be a minute vestigial spur. Finally, the lifespan of individual flowers of S. fimbriata var. fimbriata is variable (usually 2–3 days, but up to two weeks), whereas in S. fimbriata var. modesta the flowers seldom remain open for more than two days.Stenoglottis fimbriata var. fimbriata is easily distinguished from S. inandensis, S. woodii, and S. macloughlinii by its spurless labellum and undulate leaves. It is most likely to be confused with S. longifolia but differs in the orientation of its floral bracts and various characteristics of the column. For a detailed diagnosis of S. fimbriata (both varieties) and S. longifolia, see ‘diagnostic characters’ under S. longifolia.
Habitat:
It occurs in forest or on forest margins in deep or partial shade, most commonly as a lithophyte on mossy boulders or on ledges and crevices along south-facing cliff faces; occasionally it is an epiphyte on tree trunks or terrestrial in shallow soil.
Phenology:
It flowers January–April and exhibits a high rate of self-pollination
Distribution:
Stenoglottis fimbriata var. fimbriata is widespread throughout southern and east Africa, occurring in South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland), Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and the southern highlands of Tanzania at elevations of 20–2200 m. In South Africa, it occurs in the Eastern Cape (EC), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Limpopo (LIM), and Mpumalanga (MP) provinces. There has also been an outlier population recorded from Gabon (not mapped).
References:
A taxonomic revision of Stenoglottis (Orchideae, Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae),Phytotaxa 456 (3): 219–243, 02 September 2020. By Dean P. Phillips & Benny Bytebier: POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved 20 November 2022."
Images:
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Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.