Ansellia africana Lindl.

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

Morphology General Habit

An erect very variable epiphytic plant 50–125 cm. tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Pseudobulbs fusiform or cylindric, slender, slightly tapering above, 10–50 cm. long, ± covered by papery sheaths and leaf bases when young.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 8–10, in apical half of pseudobulb, narrowly lanceolate, acute or rarely obtuse, 15–50 cm. long, 1.4–5(–6.5) cm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences laxly 30–40-flowered, much branched; bracts ovate, acute, 1–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers yellow, ± heavily blotched with dark maroon.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal elliptic, obtuse, 1.6–3.3 cm. long, 0.5–1 cm. broad; lateral sepals similar but slightly longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals elliptic, rounded at apex, slightly shorter and broader than sepals, 1.6–2.8 cm. long, 0.5–1.1 cm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 3-lobed, 1.4–2.2 cm. long, 1.2–1.9 cm. broad, bearing 2–3 longitudinal keels in centre; side lobes erect, rounded in front; mid-lobe orbicular to obovate, retuse or obtuse with undulate margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column up to 1.2 cm. long.

Figures

Fig. 88.

Habitat

Epiphytic or rarely on rocks in open woodland, wooded grassland or on Hyphaene palm trees; 0–2200 m.

Distribution

K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 throughout tropical Africa south to South Africa

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44392142/44437667

Conservation

VU - vulnerable

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998

Morphology General Habit

Robust epiphytic herb, sometimes lithophytic, 50–125 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Pseudobulbs clustered, 10–60 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, fusiform or cylindrical, ribbed with several nodes, yellow or yellow-green.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 4–10, borne on apical half of pseudobulb, 15–50 × 1.5–5 cm, lanceolate, acute (rarely obtuse), dark green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence apparently terminal but arising from a node just below the apex, paniculate, laxly many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 2.5–4 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 1–5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually yellow, blotched lightly or heavily with red-brown, but occasionally plain yellow or yellow-green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 16–35 × 5–10 mm, elliptic, obtuse; lateral sepals similar but slightly longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 16–30 × 5–14 mm, elliptic, rounded at the apex, slightly shorter and broader than the sepals.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 14–22 × 12–19 mm, 3-lobed, with 2–3 longitudinal keels down the centre; side lobes erect, rounded in front; mid-lobe orbicular to obovate, obtuse and apiculate or retuse, the margins undulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column to 12 mm long.