Platycoryne trilobata Summerh.

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Platycoryne trilobata

Habit
Wet peaty dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters, Rufunsa Distr.
Nov 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

Platycoryne trilobata

Flowers
Wet peaty dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters, Rufunsa Distr.
Nov 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

Platycoryne trilobata

Flowers
Wet peaty dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters, Rufunsa Distr.
Nov 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Habenaria trilobata (Summerh.) Bytebier
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:
Terrestrial herb 30–40 cm tall growing from ovoid tubers c.10 × 5 mm; leaves 5–6, spaced along the stem, the 1–2 lowermost sheathing, the upper ones appressed to stem, the intermediate ones ± spreading, up to 4 × 0.7 cm lanceolate, acute, sheathing at base; inflorescence up to 8 cm long, laxly 1–4-flowered; flowers green or green and yellow with an orange lip, erect or suberect; pedicel 25–30 mm long, ovary 10 mm long; bracts 10–25 mm long; dorsal sepal erect, c. 8 × 5 mm, ovate, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, c. 7.5 × 2.5 mm, obliquely lanceolate, obtuse; petals erect, adnate to dorsal sepal, 7 × 2.8 mm, obliquely curved oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, sometimes with a minute lobe on front margin; ip 5 × 4 mm, deflexed, 3-lobed below the middle. Mid-lobe 4 × 2 mm, oblong, convex; side lobes 1.5 × 0.75 mm, reflexed, narrowly ligulate, obtuse; spur c. 3 cm long, pendent, inflated at apex.
Type location:
Angola
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: trilobata: three-lobed, referring to the lip
Habitat: Permanently wet dambo.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution: Angola and Zambia
Provinces:
Growth form(s): Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22 SANBI, Pretoria Page 193.

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 156 - 157.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123.

Summerhayes, V.S. (1958). African orchids XXV Kew Bulletin 13(1) Pages 67 - 68. Protologue

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 71 - 73. (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Platycoryne trilobata:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Platycoryne trilobata

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Platycoryne trilobata
African Plant Database: Platycoryne trilobata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Platycoryne trilobata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Platycoryne trilobata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Platycoryne trilobata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Platycoryne trilobata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Platycoryne trilobata
JSTOR Plant Science: Platycoryne trilobata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Platycoryne trilobata
Plants of the World Online: Platycoryne trilobata
Tropicos: Platycoryne trilobata
Wikipedia: Platycoryne trilobata


Copyright: The Angola flora team, 2026

The Angola flora team (2026). Flora of Angola: Species information: Platycoryne trilobata.
https://www.angolaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=209300, retrieved 29 September 2026

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