Platylepis glandulosa (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb, 20–36 cm tall; stems creeping at the base, erect in the upper part.

Morphology Roots

Roots arising from the lower nodes, fleshy, villous, c. 2 mm in diameter.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged, 4.8–8 × 1.2–4 cm, ovate, slightly asymmetrical, glabrous, margins often undulate, lamina with 3 prominent longitudinal veins; petiole 2–4 cm long, flattened, widening to a sheath at the base; upper 5–6 leaves reduced to ovate sheaths up to about 2 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, densely many-flowered; rhachis, bracts, ovary, pedicel and sepals all glandular-hairy; ovary and pedicel c. 7 mm long; bracts up to 15 × 7 mm at the base of the inflorescence, ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals green, the lateral sepals sometimes pink-brown along the margin; petals green or pink-brown; lip white, pink-brown at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 6–7 × 3 mm, ovate, convex; lateral sepals joined to the dorsal sepal for 3 mm, then spreading, the free part c. 4 × 2.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5–8 × 1 mm, oblanceolate or spathulate, lying inside the dorsal sepal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 5.5–8.5 × 2.2–2.5 mm, adnate to the column for half its length, fleshy, deeply concave with 2 rounded calli at the base, the apex rounded and recurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 4–6.5 mm long; rostellum 2-lobed, the lobes acuminate, as long as the anther; stigma papillose.