Rhipidoglossum microphyllum Summerh.

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

Morphology General Habit

An epiphyte with slender stems, 3–20 cm. long, 2 mm. diameter, often growing in tangled masses.

Morphology Roots

Roots more prominent than the leaves, 2–10 cm. long, 0.5–2 mm. diameter.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves in apical part of stem, up to 6, linear to oblanceolate, rounded and unequally bilobed at apex, 6–15 mm. long, 2–4 mm. wide, articulated at base to a 4–5 mm. long leaf-sheath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–many, secund, 2–3 cm. long, up to 5-flowered; peduncle 1–1.2 cm. long; bracts amplexicaul, conical, 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers greenish yellow, strongly fragrant; pedicel and ovary 4–5 mm. long, covered by scurfy hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 3 mm. long, 1.4–1.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals falcate, narrowly oblong, subacute, 3.5–4 mm. long, 1–1.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals obliquely oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 2.5–3 mm. long, 1.5–1.6 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip entire, elliptic, obtuse, 2.5–3 mm. long, 0.8–1 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur strongly incurved, slenderly cylindrical, ± 7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 1 mm. long; stipites 2; viscidia 2; rostellum pendent, rather bulbous.

Habitat

In montane mist-forest of Podocarpus, Dombeya, Myrica, etc., also occasionally in old coffee plantations; 1400–2300 m.

Distribution

T7

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

Morphology General Habit

Epiphytic herb; stem up to 20 cm long; roots very numerous, much more prominent than the leaves, 30–50 cm long at base of stem, 13–16 cm long near apex, 0.5–2.5 mm in diameter, grey-green with white pneumathodes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 6 at tip of stem, 6–17 × 2–4 mm, linear or oblanceolate, unequally 2-lobed at the apex, articulated at the base to a sheath 4–5 mm long; the lobes rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences arising below the leaves, 2–3 cm long, 4–5-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 4–5 mm long, dotted with black scurfy hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts c. 1 mm long, dark brown, sheathing.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers green or yellow-green, translucent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 3 × 1–1.5 mm, oblong; lateral sepals 3.5–4 × 1–1.5 mm, narrowly oblong, falcate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 mm, oblong-elliptic, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip entire, 2.5–3 × 1–1.5 mm, elliptic, obtuse; spur 7–10mm long, C-shaped, slender.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 1 mm long; stipites and viscidia 2; rostellum pendent, swollen.