Polystachya modesta Rchb. f.

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Polystachya modesta

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Polystachya modesta

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Polystachya modesta

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Polystachya kindtiana De Wild.
Polystachya shirensis Rchb. f.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Epiphytic, rarely lithophytic herb. Pseudobulbs conical, clustered. Leaves 3-4, elliptic or lanceolate, dark green, often edged with purple. Inflorescence unbranched, up to 18 cm tall. Flowers pale yellow, rarely purple or red. Lip without a raised callus.
Notes: This species is similar to P. concreta, which is much more robust, has a many-flowered, branched inflorescence and a ridged callus on the lip.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In riverine forest and high rainfall woodland.
Altitude range: Up to 1800 m
Flowering time:Jan - Feb
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical Africa.
Malawi distribution: S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 194 - 195. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 333.

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45.

Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 363.

Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 85.

Kimberley, M.J. (2003). A List of Epiphytic Orchids of Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Page 50.

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 339 - 340.

La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 118 - 119. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 211 - 212. (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 97.

Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 60.

Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 191 - 194. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124.

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 391.

Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 69. (Includes a picture).

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 120 - 121. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Polystachya modesta:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Polystachya modesta
Flora of Mozambique: Polystachya modesta
Flora of Zambia: Polystachya modesta
Flora of Zimbabwe: Polystachya modesta

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Polystachya modesta
African Plant Database: Polystachya modesta
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Polystachya modesta
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Polystachya modesta
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Polystachya modesta
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Polystachya modesta
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Polystachya modesta
JSTOR Plant Science: Polystachya modesta
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Polystachya modesta
Plants of the World Online: Polystachya modesta
Tropicos: Polystachya modesta
Wikipedia: Polystachya modesta


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Polystachya modesta.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=118390, retrieved 5 December 2024

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