Orchidaceae
Polystachya

Polystachya adansoniae Rchb.f.

First published in Flora 48: 185 (1865)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is a pseudobulbous epiphyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998

Morphology General Habit
Epiphytic herb, with pseudobulbs set close together on a rhizome.
Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs
Pseudobulbs 1.5–14 × 0.5–0.9 cm, conical to cylindrical, ribbed, 2–3-leaved.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 5–16 × 0.6–1.8 cm, ligulate, glossy green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence (floral axis) to c. 15 cm tall, densely many-flowered; peduncle to c. 9 cm long, subtended by a flattened sheath.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers primrose-scented, greenish-yellow or greenish-white, the sepals sometimes purple-tipped, column and anther cap purple.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 2–4 mm long, arched.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 5–9 mm long, aristate, reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals ovate, acuminate; dorsal sepal 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm; lateral sepals 4–5.5 × 2.5–3 mm, narrowing abruptly into the acumen; mentum conical, c. 2.5 mm high.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2–3 × 3–5 mm, linear, somewhat falcate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 2.8–3.8 mm long, 3-lobed, with a hairy callus at the junction of the lobes; mid-lobe reflexed, 2–4 × 0.7–1 mm, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate; side lobes erect, rounded, c. 2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column c. 1.5 mm long.
[FZ]

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

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 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 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0