Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Cyrtorchis | > | crassifolia |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small epiphytic herb with a short stem, mostly less than c. 4 cm long; roots stout, 5–6 mm in diameter. Leaves up to c. 6, distichous, 2–6 cm long, recurved, V-shaped in cross-section, succulent, grey-green. Inflorescences 1–2, arising from the axils of lower leaves, to c. 4 cm long, arching, densely 3–8-flowered. Flowers not opening wide, creamy-white, turning apricot-coloured as they fade, scented in the evening. Sepals and petals lanceolate, up to 14 mm long, recurved at the tips, sepals longer than petals. Lip lanceolate, 6.5–11 mm long, recurved, channelled towards the base; spur 1.8–3 cm long, tapering from a base, incurved. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | crassifolia: thick-leaved |
Habitat: | In Brachystegia woodland and mixed deciduous woodlands in high-rainfall areas, epiphytic, rarely lithophytic, usually embedded in lichen. |
Altitude range: | 1200 - 2050 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and northern Zimbabwe. |
Malawi distribution: | N,S |
Growth form(s): | Epiphyte, lithophyte. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Monday 13 May 2019 |
Literature: |
Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 100 - 101. (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 318. (Includes a picture). Fischer, E., Killmann, D., Delepierre, G. & Lebel, J-P. (2010). The Orchids of Rwanda Koblenz Geographical Colloquia Series Biogeographical Monographs 2 Page 165. (Includes a picture). Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 79. 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 414 - 416. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Page 65. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 266. (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 95. Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 107. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 118. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 134. Summerhayes, V.S. (1960). African orchids XXVII Kew Bulletin 14(1) Page 156. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 198 - 199. (Includes a picture). |
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