Polystachya songaniensis G. Will.

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Photo: David Gwynne-Evans
Near summit Mt Mabu

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Synonyms:	Epiphorella songaniensis (G.Will.) Mytnik & Szlach.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Epiphyte or lithophyte, often forming small, dense mats, flowering when leafless. Pseudobulbs squat, onion-shaped, 10-15 mm long, shiny green or purplish, 2-3-leaved. Leaves narrowly linear, grass-like, up to 15 cm long. Inflorescence more or less densely many-flowered, usually up to 15 cm long but rarely up to 35 cm. Flowers pale to deep pink, sometimes white. Lip white, large with a conspicuous bright yellow callus and a frilled edge. Lateral sepals forming a narrow, cylindric, spur-like mentum.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	songaniensis: from the Songani Lookout point on Zomba Plateau in Malawi, where the type specimen was found.
Habitat:	Growing on old Xerophyta stumps, in clumps of sedges or on exposed seepage rock, apparently never seen on living plants.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Southern Malawi and Mozambique.
Malawi distribution:	S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:	Near Endemic
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Darbyshire, I., Timberlake, J., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., Matimele, H., Langa. C., Datizua, C., de Sousa, C., Alves, T., Massingue, A., Hadj-Hammou, J., Dhanda, S., Shah, T., Wursten, B. (2019). The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status Phytotaxa 136 Page 78. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 332 - 333. as Polystachya songaniensis (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 110 - 111. as Polystachya songaniensis (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 220. as Polystachya songaniensis Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 351 - 353. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2002). Endemics of Mt. Mulanje. The endemic spermatophytes of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi Systematics and Geography of Plants 72 Page 20. as Polystachya songaniensis Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 140. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 71.

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Flora of Mozambique: Polystachya songaniensis

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