Polystachya villosa Rolfe

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

Morphology General Habit

A fairly robust epiphytic herb, rarely lithophytic.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Pseudobulbs 3–5 × 1–1.5 cm, oblong or conical, slightly bilaterally flattened, ribbed, with 2 nodes, yellow, 3–4-leaved.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 6–18 × 1.4–2.8 cm, broadly oblanceolate to ligulate, drying yellow or orange.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence (floral axis) produced at the same time as the new leaves, 10–20 cm tall, densely pubescent, densely several- to many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 9 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 9–15 × 4–7 mm, broadly ovate, acuminate, villous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers primrose-scented, greenish-white or occasionally yellowish, villous on the outside; the lip white with purple spotting on the disk.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 7–10 × 3–4 mm, ovate, acuminate; lateral sepals 8.5–13 × 4–7 mm, obliquely triangular, acuminate, slightly keeled on the outside; mentum 3–4 mm high, rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5.5–7 × 1.2–2 mm, oblanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip recurved, fleshy, hard to flatten, 6–8 × 3.5–4 mm, 3-lobed at about halfway, with a small glabrous callus at the junction of the lobes; mid-lobe 2–3.5 × 3 mm, broadly ovate, acute or acuminate, bullate; side lobes erect, rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column c. 1.5 mm long.

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

Morphology General Habit

A large epiphytic or lithophytic plant to 20 cm. high.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Pseudobulbs clustered, fusiform to conical, several-noded, 3.5–4 cm. long, 1.3–1.5 cm. wide, 3–4-leaved towards apex, drying glossy yellow or orange.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves oblanceolate or oblong-ligulate, to 18 cm. long, 2.5 cm. wide, rounded at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence erect, to 15 cm. high, villose; flowers clustered towards apex; bracts broadly ovate, acuminate, 9–12 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, villous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers very villous outside; sepals pale cream or whitish green, lip white with minute purple spots on the disc and a light yellow line in the basal half.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal ovate, acuminate, 7.5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, to 9.5 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals oblong-lanceolate, 6 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip recurved, 3-lobed, 5 mm. long, 3.6 mm. wide; side lobes erect, rounded, mid-lobe bullate, acute or acuminate, 2.7 mm. long and wide; disc glabrous or papillate with a scarcely apparent callus between the side lobes.

Habitat

Epiphytic or lithophytic in Brachystegia woodland; 1500–2000 m.

Distribution

T4