Orchidaceae
Polystachya

Polystachya stuhlmannii Kraenzl.

First published in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas, C: 155 (1895)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Cameroon to Uganda and S. Tropical Africa. It is a pseudobulbous epiphyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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]

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

Morphology General Habit
An epiphytic or lithophytic plant, 7–22 cm. high.
Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs
Pseudobulbs ovoid, conical or cylindrical, 1.2–6.3 cm. long, 0.4–0.8 cm. wide, 2-leaved towards apex, subtended by 2 leaf-bearing sheaths at base.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves linear, grass-like, suberect, curved, 8–16 cm. long, 4–8 mm. wide, unequally bilobed at apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence shorter, equal to or longer than the leaves, 6–18 cm. long, subtended at base by 1–2 long narrow compressed acute sheaths; bracts setaceous, as long or longer than flowers, 4–7 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers minute; sepals yellow, yellow-green or green, ± tipped with purple; lip and petals purple.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal ovate, acuminate, 1.8 mm. long, 1 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 3.5 mm. long, to 2.5 mm. wide; mentum short, conical, 1.5–2 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals narrowly oblong, subacute, 1.25 mm. long, 0.3 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed in basal half, 2.3 mm. long, 1.6 mm. wide; side lobes rotund, erect; mid-lobe lanceolate to ovate, reflexed, 1.2 mm. long, 0.5 mm. wide, acute; disc glabrous or sparsely pubescent; callus fleshy, between side lobes, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column short, fleshy, truncate, 1.1 mm. long.
Habitat
In forest or open woodland or on lichen covered sandstone outcrop; 800–1700 m.
Distribution
T1 U2
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Dwarf epiphytic herb.
Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs
Pseudobulbs 10–15 × 6–8 mm, oblong to conical, ribbed, somewhat flattened bilaterally, 2-leaved.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 4–14 × 0.5–1 cm, linear, slightly 2-lobed at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence (floral axis) 2.5–5.5 cm tall, densely many-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers very small, greenish-yellow or whitish, tinged with purple, often not opening but apparently self fertilizing.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary c. 2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 4–7 mm long, aristate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal 1.6–2 × 0.6–1.2 mm, ovate, acuminate; lateral sepals 2–3.5 × 1.5–2 mm, obliquely ovate, acuminate; mentum 1.5–2 mm high, bluntly conical.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 1.25 × 0.3 mm, narrowly oblong.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 1.3–2.3 × 1.5 mm, 3-lobed in the basal half with a glabrous callus at the junction of the lobes; mid-lobe c. 1 × 0.5 mm, ovate; side lobes rounded, erect.
[FZ]

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • 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 2024. 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 2024. 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