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
In Brachystegia woodland and occasionally in grassland; 1150–2100 m.
Woodland on Kalahari Sand, and Brachystegia woodland, also in escarpment grassland and margins of watershed dambo on sandy soil
Slender terrestrial herb 20–30 cm tall.Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 2–3 cm long, 1.2–2 cm in diameter, irregularly ellipsoid, rather flattened, forming a short chain; roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter.Leaves 1–3, erect, 15–31 cm × 1–6 mm, linear, acuminate, plicate, grass-like, partly developed at flowering time.Inflorescence 2–10-flowered; scape with 2 scarious sheaths.Pedicel and ovary arched, 8–15 mm long; bracts 8–22 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate, ± scarious, spreading or reflexed.Flowers rather bell-shaped, primrose-yellow or pale lemon-yellow, the side lobes of the lip tinged and edged with purple.Sepals 17–25 × 3–8 mm, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, the laterals slightly longer than the dorsal.Petals 14–17 × 4–8 mm, oblong-elliptic, acute or obtuse.Lip 12–17 mm long, 6.5–12 mm wide when flattened, 3-lobed, with 2 papillose ridges in the basal half and long papillae on the mid-lobe; side lobes erect, rounded; mid-lobe oblong, 10 mm wide, obtuse or apiculate, the margin erose; spur 2–3 mm long, cylindrical, slender but sometimes slightly swollen at apex, at right angles to the lip.Column 3–4.5 mm long; foot 3 mm long.Capsule pendent, 11–14 mm long.
A terrestrial herb 22–30 cm. tall. Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, irregularly ellipsoidal, somewhat flattened, 2–3 cm. long, 1.2–2 cm. diameter, in chains; roots from base of the new growth, 1–1.5 mm. diameter. Leaves 1–3, erect, plicate, grass-like, linear, acuminate, 15–31 cm. long, 1–6 mm. wide. Inflorescence produced as leaves develop, densely 2–10-flowered; peduncle slender, 1.5–2 mm. diameter, with 2 spaced sheaths; rhachis 2–8 cm. long; bracts spreading or reflexed, lanceolate, acuminate, 8–22 mm. long. Flowers secund, subnutant, pale lemon yellow with greenish disc on lip sometimes edged with purple; pedicel and ovary 8–12 mm. long. Dorsal sepal lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 1.7–2 cm. long, 3–5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar, 1.7–2.2 cm. long, 3–6 mm. wide. Petals oblong-elliptic, acute or obtuse, 1.4–1.6 cm. long, 4–5 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 1.2–1.4 cm. long, 6.5–11 mm. wide; side lobes obtuse or rounded; mid-lobe much longer, oblong or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or apiculate, erose; callus of 2 papillose ridges in basal half with long papillae on mid-lobe surface; spur cylindrical, slighdy incurved, 2–2.5 mm. long. Column 3–4.5 mm. long; foot 3 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 11–14 mm. long.
Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998
Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968
