Satyrium breve Rolfe

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 10–60 cm tall; tubers to 4 cm long, ovoid to fusiform, woolly.

Morphology General Shoots

Sterile shoot 4-leaved; the lower 1–2 leaves sheath-like, the upper leaves to 31 × 2 cm, lanceolate, acute.

Sterile

Sterile shoot 4-leaved; the lower 1–2 leaves sheath-like, the upper leaves to 31 × 2 cm, lanceolate, acute.

Morphology Stem

Flowering stem with 5–8 leaves, the largest in the middle, ± erect, 8–26 × 2–5 cm, lanceolate.

Fertile

Flowering stem with 5–8 leaves, the largest in the middle, ± erect, 8–26 × 2–5 cm, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 2.5–14 × 2–5 cm, densely few- to many-flowered, pyramidal when young.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale to deep pink or red-purple, sometimes with darker streaks.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 6–8 mm long, glabrous or papillose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts to 20 mm long, pubescent on upper surface, spreading or sometimes reflexed at base of inflorescence.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals projecting forwards, joined to each other for a third to half of their length, and to the lip for a third or a quarter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Median sepal 7–16 × 1–2 mm, oblanceolate, rounded; lateral sepals slightly shorter but broader, oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals similar to median sepal but narrower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 6–16 mm long, the apex acute and reflexed for c. 2 mm, very convex with a wide mouth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs 2–5.5 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, blunt, parallel to ovary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 5–6.5 mm long; stigma c. 1.5 mm high and wide; rostellum equally 3-toothed.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 1–7 dm. high, mostly glabrous.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers ellipsoid, ovoid or fusiform, 1–4 cm. long, 5–22 mm. in diameter, glabrous or ± tomentose.

Morphology Roots

Roots slender, flexuous, pubescent.

Morphology Stem

Sterile stem up to 19 cm. long, 4-leaved; lower leaves sheath-like, adpressed, the upper leaves lanceolate, to 31 cm. long and 2 cm. broad. Flowering stem erect, slender to rather stout, leafy along its entire length; leaves 5–8, the lowermost 1–3 sheath-like, obtuse, the remainder ± erect, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, acute, up to 6–21 (–31) cm. long and 1–4 cm. broad, the uppermost much smaller.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence ± pyramidal, 2–10(–13) cm. long, 2–5 cm. in diameter, densely 10- to many-flowered; bracts spreading, the lower ones reflexed, lanceolate, acute, 7–35 mm. long, hairy inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers almost spreading, sessile, pink, deep red, mauve or purple, sometimes with darker markings; ovary 6–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals projecting forwards, united to one another in their lower half or third and with the lip in their lower third or quarter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Intermediate sepal narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, rounded, 7.5–21 mm. long, l.5–2(–3) mm. broad; laterals obliquely oblong-elliptical, obtuse, shorter than the intermediate but 2.5–7 mm. broad, several-veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals similar to intermediate sepal but narrower, like it 3-veined; all tepals pubescent inside at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip very convex with a wide mouth, the apex narrowed and erect, 7–16 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs short and broad, 1.5–5.5 mm. long, ± 2 mm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column slightly curved, the slender stalk longer than the fertile part, 5–8 mm. long, glabrous; stigma semi-orbicular, concave, ±1.5 mm. high and 2.5–3.5 mm. broad, rostellum porrect, truncate, shortly and equally toothed in front.

Habitat

Wet grassland and swamps, rarely among bushes; 1000–2100 m.

Distribution

T4 T7 T8