Orchidaceae

Epipactis Zinn

First published in Cat. Pl. Hort. Gott.: 85 (1757), nom. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Temp. & Subtropical to Malawi.

Descriptions

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:1. 1995

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb, occasionally saprophytic, with very short rhizomes, numerous fleshy roots and simple erect leafy stems.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ovate or lanceolate, plicate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence racemose; flowers usually dull reddish or greenish, pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals and petals free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip with no spur, but with the hypochile forming a nectar-containing cup; hypochile articulated to the epichile by a narrow joint.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short, flat or concave in front, with a shallow cup at the apex; anther free, 2-celled, hinged at the back of the column apex, behind the stigma and rostellum; pollinia 2, attached near the rostellum apex, each longitudinally divided, caudicles absent; pollen grains in friable masses loosely bound by fine threads.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma broad, with the large, globular rostellum placed centrally above it.
[FZ]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herbs from rhizomes with fleshy roots, and with erect leafy stem
Morphology General Indumentum
Stem, ovary, outside of sepals and sometimes also the leaves ± densely pubescent
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ovate to lanceolate along most of stem
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts similar to foliage leaves and sometimes almost as large as them
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals entire, usually reddish and/or greenish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Lip spurless, often articulated in the middle; basal half cup-shaped, nectariferous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short; pollinia 2, mealy, consisting of loose pollen masses.
Distribution
About 80 species, mainly in temperate parts of the northern hemisphere but with three species in tropical Africa.
[FSOM]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial, occasionally saprophytic herbs with horizontal or vertical, very short rhizomes, numerous fleshy roots and simple, erect, leafy stems
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ovate or lanceolate, plicate, occasionally very small
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in ± secund racemes, rather inconspicuous, spreading or pendulous, shortly pedicelled
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals spreading or remaining closed, dull reddish or greenish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals free, subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals scarcely smaller than sepals
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip usually in 2 parts articulated by a narrow joint or fold (mesochile); the basal part (hypochile) forms a nectar-containing cup often with a pair of basal bosses; the apical part (epichile) forms a ± cordate or triangular downwardly directed terminal lobe; spur absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short, flat or concave in front with a shallow cup at apex; anther free, hinged at the back of the summit of the column, behind the stigma and rostellum, ovate, slightly convex, 2-celled; pollinia 2, tapering towards their apices near which they are attached to the rostellum, each ± divided longitudinally into halves; caudicles absent; pollen grains forming friable masses loosely bound by fine threads; stigma prominent, broad; rostellum placed centrally above the stigma, large, globular, persistent, evanescent or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule oblong, spreading or pendulous.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0