Orchidaceae
Brownleea

Brownleea mulanjiensis H.P.Linder

First published in Kew Bull. 40: 125 (1985)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Malawi (Mt. Mulanje). It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb perennating by testicular tubers. Plants erect, to 50 cm tall, slender, somewhat flexuose.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Basal sheaths 2, the outer to c. 3 cm long, hyaline; the inner to 10 cm long, scabrid to shortly pilose, dark-brown or black.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 1–2, shortly sheathing; blade erect, to 12 × 2 cm, narrowly lanceolate, acute, veins prominent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a dense spike to 5 cm long, many-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Floral bracts as long as or longer than the ovaries, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers resupinate, lilac or pale mauve.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal galeate; galea 5–6 mm long, falcate in side view. Lateral sepals patent, oblique, 3–5 mm long, narrowly oblong, acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur horizontal at its base, straight or gently down-curved, 3.5–4.5 mm long, cylindrical.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4.5–5.5 × 3–4 mm, oblong, somewhat falcate, fused to the dorsal sepal, the upper margin somewhat crenate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip minute, 2–3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum c. 1.5 mm tall; lateral lobes erect, adjacent, canaliculate, flanked by two large staminodes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther reflexed with an up-curved apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma sessile at the base of the rostellum.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary c. 1 cm long.
[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: 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 2024. 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 2024. 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