Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998
Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968
Grassland in swamp or sponge areas, in perennially damp ground, or sandy peaty moist soil, also in dambos in miombo woodland and in submontane grassland
In seasonally wet grassland, marshes and swamps; 960–2000 m.
A terrestrial herb 25–52 cm. tall. Perennating organs underground, tuberous, ovoid, in strings, 10–13 mm. tall, 8–10 mm. diameter, white; roots slender, 0.75–1 mm. diameter. Leaves 2–6, linear, acuminate, 10–30 cm. long, 1–2 mm. wide. Inflorescence produced before leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle 1.5 mm. diameter, almost covered by 5 papery sheaths; rhachis 5–10 mm. long; bracts linear, acuminate, 10 mm. long. Flowers small but rather variable in size, yellow sometimes with reddish tinged side lobes to the lip; pedicel and ovary 5–8 mm. long. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, 5.5–8.5 mm. long, 2.3–3 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar, 5.5–9.5 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide. Petals oblanceolate, subacute or acute, 5.7–8 mm. long, 2.4–3 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 6–7 mm. long, 4–4.5 mm. wide; side lobes rounded in front; mid-lobe oblong-obovate, obtuse or emarginate; callus of 2–3 basal ridges with 3–5 lines of papillae in front on mid-lobe; spur cylindric, 2.5–3.5 mm. long. Column 2–2.7 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 20 mm. long. Fig. 102.
Slender terrestrial herb 25–52 cm tall.Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 10–13 mm tall, 8–10 mm in diameter, ovoid, forming chains; roots slender, up to 1 mm in diameter.Leaves 2–6, 10–30 cm × 1–3 mm, narrowly linear, acuminate, grass-like, absent or just starting to develop at flowering time.Inflorescence laxly to fairly densely several- to many-flowered; scape almost covered by 4–5 papery sheaths.Pedicel and ovary 4–8 mm long, the ovary swelling quickly; bracts 6–10 mm long, scarious, linear, acuminate.Flowers bright yellow, column and spur often tinged with red.Sepals 4.2–9.5 × 1.5–3 mm, oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse.Petals 4.2–8 × 1.6–3 mm, oblanceolate, acute or subacute.Lip 5.2–7 × 3–4.5 mm, 3-lobed; side lobes rounded in front; mid-lobe 2–2.7 × 2.5 mm, oblong-obovate, obtuse or emarginate; callus of 2–3 basal ridges with 3–5 lines of papillae on mid-lobe; spur 2–3.5 mm, very slender, cylindrical, horizontal.Column 2–2.7 mm long.Capsule pendent, 20 mm long.
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 seasonally wet grassland, marshes and swamps; 960–2000 m.
A terrestrial herb 25–52 cm. tall. Perennating organs underground, tuberous, ovoid, in strings, 10–13 mm. tall, 8–10 mm. diameter, white; roots slender, 0.75–1 mm. diameter. Leaves 2–6, linear, acuminate, 10–30 cm. long, 1–2 mm. wide. Inflorescence produced before leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle 1.5 mm. diameter, almost covered by 5 papery sheaths; rhachis 5–10 mm. long; bracts linear, acuminate, 10 mm. long. Flowers small but rather variable in size, yellow sometimes with reddish tinged side lobes to the lip; pedicel and ovary 5–8 mm. long. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, 5.5–8.5 mm. long, 2.3–3 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar, 5.5–9.5 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide. Petals oblanceolate, subacute or acute, 5.7–8 mm. long, 2.4–3 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 6–7 mm. long, 4–4.5 mm. wide; side lobes rounded in front; mid-lobe oblong-obovate, obtuse or emarginate; callus of 2–3 basal ridges with 3–5 lines of papillae in front on mid-lobe; spur cylindric, 2.5–3.5 mm. long. Column 2–2.7 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 20 mm. long. Fig. 102.
Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968
