Stenoglottis macloughlinii (L.Bolus) G.McDonald ex J.M.H.Shaw, Orchid Rev. 111: 79 (2003).
Homotypic Names:
Cynorkis macloughlinii L.Bolus, Ann. Bolus Herb. 4: 139 (1928).
Description:
Lithophytic or terrestrial. Leaves 5-15, broadly lanceolate to oblanceolate, unspotted, concolourous green or purple below, margins flat, entire, up to 12.5 x 2.2 cm. Inflorescence up to 35 cm tall with 10-40 flowers; sheaths unspotted. Bracts lanceolate, acute to acuminate, unspotted, sheathing, always shorter than ovaries, 5.0-8.0 x 2.0-3.3 mm. Flowers white or pink, often spotted with a darker shade of pink or purple on the labellum only; not self-pollinating. Sepals ovate to narrowly ovate or elliptic, acute to obtuse, dorsal concave, laterals oblique, 3.3-5.3 x 1.6-2.9 mm, laterals slightly longer. Petals ovate, oblique, acute, 2.7-4.4 x 1.7-2.6 mm. Labellum spurred, broadly obovate to cuneate in outline, 5.9-9.5 x 5.2-8.3 mm; side lobes broad, truncate or rounded, margins entire; midlobe rounded or obtuse, subequal or slightly shorter than side lobes; spur tapering, straight or recurved, 2-3 mm x 0.3-0.4 mm at the apex, nectar-producing. Column up to 2.0 mm long; stigmatic arms parallel to labellum in mature flowers, curving outward; auricles large, clavate, up to 0.65 mm x 0.45 mm at the apex, projecting beyond the anther between the pollinia and stigmas. Ovary 7.5-12.5 mm long.
Habitat:
Most widely distributed in the Eastern Cape where it grows on or between Umsikaba sandstone, sometimes in full sun within sight of the sea. The species is then present northwards but tends to head inland towards Oribi Gorge.
Phenology:
Flowers from October to December.
Distribution:
SE. Cape Prov. to S. KwaZulu-Natal
References:
Orchid Rev. 111: 79 (2003).; Gavin McDonald, A Review of the Genus Stenoglottis Lindley; 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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