Orchidaceae
Satyrium

Satyrium sphaerocarpum Lindl.

First published in Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 337 (1838)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Mozambique to E. Cape Prov. It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the montane tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb 20–40 cm high; tubers c. 2 cm long, ellipsoid.
Morphology Stem
Stem leafy with c. 5 leaves.
Morphology Leaves
Lowermost leaves sheath-like, the next 2 leaves spreading or semi-erect, borne near the base of the stem, 5–12 × 2–4 cm, ovate, acute; upper leaves smaller and bract-like.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 3–18 × 3–4 cm, fairly densely several- to many-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers whitish with purple blotches within, or pink and white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 7–9 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts up to 20 mm long at base of inflorescence, reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Sepals and petals projecting and slightly decurved, joined to each other and lip for about a third of their length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Median sepal 12–13 × 1–1.5 mm, oblong, obtuse, lateral sepals 12–15 × 2–2.5 mm, oblique.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 12–14 × c. 1 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 13–14 mm long, 7–9 mm wide when spread out, wide-mouthed, with reflexed apical flap 1–2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spurs 8–15 mm long, very slender from a relatively wide mouth.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 9–11 mm long; stigma semi-orbicular, c. 1.5 mm high; rostellum less than 0.5 mm long, obtuse.
[FZ]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0