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Synonyms: |
Satyrium brachypetalum sensu. Kraenzlin p.p., non A. Rich. Satyrium dizygoceras Summerh. Satyrium leptopetalum Kraenzl. Satyrium trachypetalum Kraenzl. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Terrestrial herb 45–85 cm tall, growing from an ellipsoid, woolly tuber, up to 5 cm long. Leaves 3-4 on a separate sterile shoot; lowermost 1–2 sheathing; upper ones lanceolate or elliptic, up to 18 cm long. Flowering stem with 7–13 sheathing leaves up to 10 cm long. Inflorescence narrowly cylindrical, 10–40 cm long, fairly densely many-flowered. Flowers green or yellow-green, sometimes tinged with brown; scented; bracts up to 35 mm long at base of inflorescence, reflexed. Sepals and petals curled under. Median sepal oblanceolate, 3.5–5 mm long, rounded at apex; lateral sepals slightly longer and about twice as wide, oblique. Petals similar to median sepal. Lip ellipsoid, 4.5–5.5 mm long, hooded, reflexed at the apex, fleshy with a narrow mouth. Spurs 14–22 mm long, slender, pendent, sometimes with 2 extra rudimentary spurs less than 1 mm long below them. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | volkensii: after G. Volkens who collected on Mt Kilimanjaro 1892, 1893 and 1894 |
Habitat: | In woodland, grassland with scattered shrubs, montane grassland and at margins of dambos. |
Altitude range: | 1200 - 2400 m |
Flowering time: | Dec - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
Malawi distribution: | N,C,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 335. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 70. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 86. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 216. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 146. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 98. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 159. Summerhayes, V.S. (1953). African Orchids: XXII Kew Bulletin 8(4) Pages 577 - 578. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 95 - 96. (Includes a picture). |
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