Satyrium volkensii Schltr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 45–85 cm tall; tubers to 5 cm long, ellipsoid, woolly.

Morphology General Shoots

Sterile shoot 3–4-leaved; lowermost 1–2 leaves sheathing; upper leaves up to 18 × 5 cm, lanceolate or elliptic.

Sterile

Sterile shoot 3–4-leaved; lowermost 1–2 leaves sheathing; upper leaves up to 18 × 5 cm, lanceolate or elliptic.

Morphology Stem

Flowering stem with 7–13 sheathing leaves up to 10 cm long.

Fertile

Flowering stem with 7–13 sheathing leaves up to 10 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 10–40 × 1.5–2.5 cm, narrowly cylindrical, fairly densely many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers green or yellow-green, sometimes tinged with brown; scented.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 6–10 mm long, glabrous or slightly papillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts up to 35 mm long at base of inflorescence, reflexed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals curled under, joined to each other and lip in lower half or third.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Median sepal 3.5–5 × 0.7 mm, oblanceolate, rounded at apex; lateral sepals slightly longer and about twice as wide, oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals similar to median sepal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 4.5–5.5 mm long, ellipsoid, hooded, the apex reflexed, fleshy with a narrow mouth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs 14–22 mm long, slender, pendent, sometimes with 2 extra rudimentary spurs less than 1 mm long below them.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 3–5 mm long, curved; stigma 1–2 × 1–2 mm; rostellum mid-lobe spoon-shaped from a narrow base, much longer than side lobes.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 2–11 dm. high, mostly glabrous.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers globose to fusiform-cylindrical, 1–4.5 cm. long, 7–22 mm. in diameter, ± tomentose.

Morphology Roots

Roots slender, flexuous, pubescent.

Morphology Stem

Fertile stem erect, slender to stout, covered by sheathing leaves; sheaths 8–13(–15), lanceolate, acute, up to 2.5–11 cm. long and 1–3 cm. broad. Sterile stem to 5 cm. long, 3–4-leaved; lower 1–2 leaves short, sheath-like, obtuse, the upper 1–3 lanceolate to oblong-elliptical, acute, up to 5–13 cm. long and 2–6 cm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence narrowly cylindrical, (5-)10–42 cm. long, 1.5–2.5 cm. in diameter, loosely to densely many-flowered; bracts reflexed, lanceolate, acute, 1–2.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers curved outwards, sessile, green to yellow-green, sometimes tinged purplish or brownish; ovary 5–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals decurved, united to one another and to the lip in their lower third or half.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Intermediate sepal oblanceolate, rounded, 3.5–5.5 mm. long, scarcely 1 mm. broad; laterals much twisted, obliquely and curved elliptical-oblong, obtuse, 4–6.5 mm. long, ± 1.5 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals oblanceolate, rounded, 3–4.5 mm. long, 0.5 mm. broad, pubescent and ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip ellipsoid, much hooded, the apex shortly recurved, 4–5.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spurs rather straggling, very slender, 11–23 mm. long, 2 very short additional spurs often present.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column inside lip, much curved, 3–5 mm. high; stigma orbicular or broader than high, 1–2 mm. high, rostellum deflexed, 3-lobed, 1.5 mm. long, the side lobes small, triangular, the middle lobe much longer, broadly spoon-shaped from a narrow base.

Habitat

Upland grassland and open woodland or bushland; 1050–2400 m.

Distribution

K2 K3 T2 T3 T6 T7 T8