Orchidaceae
Malaxis

Malaxis prorepens (Kraenzl.) Summerh.

First published in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 208 (1934)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is a pseudobulbous geophyte and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb 15–30 cm tall; rhizome creeping; flowering shoots erect.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves usually 3, around middle of stem; bases sheathing, petiolate, 2.5–3 cm long; blades suberect or spreading, 5–6 × 3–4 cm, ovate, thin-textured.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 4–10 cm × 3–6 mm, narrowly cylindrical, fairly densely many-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers reddish-purple, sometimes green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal 2–2.5 × 0.7–0.9 mm, oblong-elliptic, rounded; lateral sepals 1.8–2 × 1–1.3 mm, obliquely oblong-elliptic, rounded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 1.8–2.2 × 0.4–0.6 mm, linear-lanceolate; lip 2–2.3 × 1.8–2 mm, obovate, auriculate at base, with a central white cushion of hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 0.5–0.6 mm long.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
A small to medium-sized terrestrial plant 15 to ± 35 cm. tall; rhizome short to long, slender, creeping.
Morphology Stem
Secondary stems erect, often clustered, up to 15 cm. long, 3 mm. diameter, leafy towards apex.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 3 or rarely more, thin-textured, suberect-spreading, ovate, acute or subacute, up to 6 cm. long and 4.5 cm. broad.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence erect, 5–16 cm. long, subdensely or densely many-flowered; peduncle slender; raceme narrowly cylindrical; bracts ovate, acute, 1–2.5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers very small, flat, purple or green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal narrowly oblong-elliptic, obtuse or rounded above, 2–2.4 mm. long, 0.7–0.8 mm. broad; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-elliptic, rounded, 1.6–2 mm. long, 1–1.2 mm. broad.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals linear-lanceolate, rounded, 1.6–2 mm. long, 0.4–0.5 mm. broad.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip obovate or subcircular, auriculate at base, 1.3–2 mm. long, 1.7–2 mm. broad, with a central white pubescent area.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column fleshy, 0.6 mm. long.
Figures
Fig. 61/10, p. 287.
Habitat
In rain-forest; 550–1800 m.
Distribution
T3 T6 U2 Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique
[FTEA]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers green, purple, or brownish.
[FWTA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • 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

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0