Cynorkis kirkii Rolfe

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 9–46 cm tall, glabrous except for the tuber and roots.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers usually 2, 3–3.5 cm long, ovoid, villous.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaf usually 1, occasionally 2, pale green, 4–21 × 1.8–5 cm, ovate to elliptic, acute or apiculate, the base clasping the stem.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle usually with 1 sheathing leaf.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 1–10-flowered, the flowers set close together, often held with lip pointing upwards; bracts 9–10 mm long, ovate, acute; ovary and pedicel erect, 3–4 × 3 mm, narrowing to a "neck" 3 mm long below the flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers lilac, yellowish or white in the centre, the lip paler than the sepals and petals, but darker at the tips of the lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 5–6 × 3–5 mm, ovate, lobes convex; lateral sepals 6–7 × 2.5–3 mm, obliquely ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5–5.5 × 2–2.5 mm, falcate, forming hood with dorsal sepal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 8–20 mm long, 4-lobed, the lobes oblong or spathulate, rounded or truncate at the ends. Side lobes 4–7 × 2–4 mm; mid-lobe 10 mm long, bifid, the lobes resembling the side lobes, but slightly narrower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur slender, more or less straight, 15–30 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column stout, 2.5 mm long.

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 10–45 cm. high.

Morphology Roots

Root-tubers ovoid or ellipsoid, 1–2.5 cm. long, 5–12 mm. in diameter, woolly.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, slender or rather stout, with 1–2 scarious sheaths and a single leaf at the base and usually 1 lanceolate acuminate sheath about half-way up, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf erect or spreading, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptical, shortly acuminate, 5–22 cm. long, 2–5.5 cm. broad, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence short, up to 5 cm. long, rather closely 1–11-flowered; rhachis glandular hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts long-acuminate from an ovate base, up to 1.5 cm. long, shorter than the ovary, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pink or mauve, the lip pale yellow in centre, suberect; pedicel with ovary 2.5–3.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, ovate, very convex, ± 5 mm. long; laterals spreading, obliquely elliptical, obtuse, ± 6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals adhering to the dorsal sepal, obliquely oblong or elliptical, 5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip projecting forwards, 10–15 mm. long and broad, almost equally 4-lobed or 3-lobed with the middle lobe deeply divided, the outer lobes broader than the inner, all oblong or widened slightly towards their apices.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur slender, pendent, 2–2.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column stout, ± 2.5 mm. long; anther-canals short; rostellum middle lobe triangular, projecting forwards; stigmas shortly clavate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous.

Habitat

Grassland, humus soil in forests, damp cliffs; 0–2400 m.

Distribution

P T6 T7 T8 Z