Cynorkis buchananii Rolfe

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Below the main peak of Mt Namuli, Mozambique.

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Synonyms:	Cynorkis buchwaldiana subsp. nyassana (Schltr.) Summerh. Cynorkis nyassana Schltr.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb, up to c. 45 cm tall. Basal leaves 1-2, up to 16 cm long, lanceolate-elliptic, narrowing to a petiole-like base; leaves along the stem sheath-like, up to 2.3 cm long. Inflorescence 2.5-11 cm long, laxly to densely many-flowered, sparsely glandular hairy. Flowers pale pink or lilac, white inside the hood and at the base of the lip. Petals forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip 6-7.5 mm long, up to 3.5 mm at the apex, wedge-shaped, almost entire except for 3 obscure shallow teeth at the apex. Spur 3-5 mm long, somewhat incurved.
Notes:	This species was considered Endemic to the mountains of southern Malawi (la Croix et al., 1991; la Croix & Cribb in FZ XI-1, 1995). It may, however, also be known from southern Tanzania (Uluguru Mts) and the DRC (World Monocot Checklist, KEW).
Derivation of specific name:	buchananii: after John Buchanan (1855 – 1896), Scottish horticulturist, missionary, farmer and plant collector in Malawi, who became Acting British Consul to Central Africa.
Habitat:	On rocky seepage slopes, in damp grassland and sometimes in exotic pine plantations.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Feb - Apr
Worldwide distribution:	Southern Malawi and Mt Namuli, Mozambique; also Tanzania and the DRC (see note).
Malawi distribution:	S
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 52. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 46. (Includes a picture). Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 25. as Cynorkis buchwaldiana subsp. nyassana Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 133. Summerhayes, V.S. (1962). African orchids XXVIII Kew Bulletin 16(2) Page 258. as Cynorkis buchwaldiana subsp. nyassana

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Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Cynorkis buchananii
Flora of Mozambique: Cynorkis buchananii

External websites:

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