| Synonyms: |
Pseudohemipilia holothrix (Schltr.) |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Terrestrial herb 10–30 cm tall; tubers 1–1.5 cm long, ellipsoid, sparsely tomentose.Stem erect, with spreading hairs, with 1 basal leaf and 2–3 bract-like leaves.Basal leaf appressed to the ground, 1–3 × 1.5–3 cm, broadly ovate to orbicular, cordate at base, apiculate, glabrous or with scattered hairs on upper surface, ciliate on margin; bract-like stem leaves c. 1 cm long, hairy.Inflorescence 1–11 × 1.5 cm, laxly 2 to c. 20-flowered; bracts 3–7 mm long; all softly hairy.Flowers green or yellow-green, sometimes fragrant.Ovary and pedicel 7–11 mm long, softly hairy.Dorsal sepal erect, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, ovate, obtuse, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, 3.5–4 × 1.5 mm, obliquely lanceolate, obtuse or subacute; all sepals with spreading hairs on outside.Petals glabrous, 2-lobed to 1–1.5 mm from base; posterior lobe erect, 2–3× c. 1 mm, curved-lanceolate, subacute; anterior lobe erect, 0.5–5 × c. 0.25 mm, filiform.Lip glabrous, curving down, 3-lobed to 0.5–1 mm from base; mid-lobe 2.8–6 mm long, c. 0.8 mm wide; side lobes filiform, 1.5–5.5 mm long; spur 7–10 mm long, slightly inflated in apical half, parallel to ovary.Anther c. 1.5 mm tall, slightly incurved, rounded; canals 0.5–1 mm long, upcurved.Stigmatic arms c. 1 mm long, stout, truncate at apex.Rostellum mid-lobe triangular, less than 1 mm long.(Source: JSTOR/FZ) |
| Type location: |
Angola |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In seasonally wet grassy depressions (vleis) |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe |
| Provinces: | |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 64. Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22 SANBI, Pretoria Page 192. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 181. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 83. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 143 - 144. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 96. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 121. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 61 - 62. (Includes a picture). |