Satyrium rhynchanthoides Schltr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Slender terrestrial herb 12–32 cm tall; tubers to 3.5 cm long, globose to ellipsoid, woolly.

Morphology Stem

Stem leafy with 4–6 leaves.

Morphology Leaves

Lowermost 1–2 leaves sheath-like, the next 2–3 leaves borne near the stem base but not appressed to the ground, up to 7 × 2–3 cm, lanceolate, spreading, light green; the upper leaves bract-like.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence c. 8 cm long, laxly 3–25-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale pink or lilac or almost white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Ovary and pedicel c. 10 mm long, curved, slender.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts erect, 10–15 mm long, lanceolate, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals spreading forwards or decurved, joined to each other and lip in basal third or quarter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Median sepal 7–9.5 × 1–2 mm, oblanceolate, obtuse; lateral sepals slightly shorter and c. 3 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals similar to median sepal but slightly shorter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 7–9 mm long, 5–6 mm wide when spread out, very convex, wide-mouthed, the apex recurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs 6–8 mm long, slender, tapering, arched over ovary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 5 mm long; stigma 1 × 1.5 mm; rostellum with 3 equal teeth, the middle tooth bifid.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 0.7–3 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers globose to ellipsoid or conical-fusiform, 6–32 mm. long, 5–14 mm. in diameter, ± densely tomentose.

Morphology Roots

Roots slender, flexuous, pubescent.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, sometimes flexuous, rather slender, leafy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 4–6; 1 or 2 lowest reduced to sheaths, acute, 2–3 intermediate ± spreading or suberect, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate to broadly elliptical or elliptical-ovate, acute, up to 2.5- 4 cm. long and 1.3–3.2 cm. broad, upper 1 or 2 smaller, adpressed to the stem, lanceolate, acute, often resembling the lower bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence cylindrical, 2.5–13 cm. long, 2.5–3 cm. in diameter, rather loosely 3–25-flowered; bracts erect, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, 6–20 mm. long, the lower ones sometimes longer than the flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers spreading or half-spreading, pale pink to lilac or pale mauve; pedicel with ovary curved, slender, 8–11 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals spreading forwards or slightly decurved, united with one another and to the lip in their basal third or quarter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Intermediate sepal oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded, 8–9.5 mm. long, nearly 2 mm. broad; laterals obliquely oblanceolate-elliptical, rounded at apex, slightly shorter than the intermediate, ± 3 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals obliquely subspathulate-oblong, truncate at apex, 7.5- 9.5 mm. long, 1.5–2 mm. broad; all tepals 2–3-veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip very convex, hooded, ± 7 mm. long, 5–6 mm. broad when spread out.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs basal, much curved, diverging from ovary at base but decurved towards apex, slender, 5–8 mm. long, 1–2 mm. in diameter at base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column erect, enclosed in lip, the stalk slender, longer than the fertile part, altogether 5 mm. long; anther-loculi dependent, ellipsoid; stigma erect, broadly semi-orbicular, 1 mm. high, 1.5 mm. broad, rostellum broad, equally 3-toothed, the middle tooth bifid.

Habitat

Upland grassland and Brachystegia woodland, especially around rock outcrops; 1900–2400 m.

Distribution

T7 T8