Satyrium fimbriatum Summerh.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 1.5–4 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers 1–2, generally sessile but rarely stipitate, ovoid to cylindrical-ellipsoid, 1–3 cm. long and 5–10 mm. in diameter, almost glabrous.

Morphology Roots

Roots slender, flexuous, sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, slender or somewhat robust, with 2 basal leaves and several sheaths spaced out along its length.

Morphology Leaves

Two basal leaves subopposite, broadly ovate to orbicular-reniform, adpressed to the ground, 2–10.5 cm. long and broad; sheathing leaves 2–6, lanceolate, obtuse, 2–4.5 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. broad, papery in texture.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence dense or loose, 4–13 cm. long, 3–4 cm. in diameter, 6–12-flowered; bracts erect, similar to the sheaths, acute, brownish, 1.2–1.7(–2.3) cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers suberect, rose-pink to deep pink, rarely white; pedicel with ovary slightly curved, just over 1 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals decurved, joined to one another and to the lip at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Intermediate sepal oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded at the apex, 8–12 mm. long, ± 3 mm. broad; laterals obliquely elliptical-oblanceolate, obtuse, ± the same length as the intermediate, 3–4 mm. broad; all with entire margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals broadly oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded, 8–11 mm. long, 2.5–4.5 mm. broad, the margins shortly fimbriate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip erect, very convex in the lower part, the upper part flattened and ± recurved with fimbriate margins resembling the petals, the whole 10–14 mm. long, 7–9 mm. broad when spread out, 2-spurred at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs pendent, cylindrical, slender, 2.5–6.5 cm. long but scarcely 2 mm. in diameter at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column erect, inside the lip, altogether 7 mm. long, the rather slender stalk ± two-thirds of the whole; anther-loculi ellipsoid, pendent, viscidia ovate, ± 1.5 mm. long; stigma erect, transversely semi-orbicular, emarginate at the apex, 3–4 mm. broad, 1.5–2.5 mm. high, rostellum projecting forwards and downwards, 3-lobed, the side lobes very short and obtuse, the middle lobe much larger, triangular, subacute or acute.

Figures

Fig. 33, p. 188.

Habitat

Open upland grassland, often near streams or at edge of forest or on stony slopes and rock ledges; 2100–3900 m.

Distribution

K1 K3 K4 K5 T3 U1