Cynorkis brevicalcar Summerh.

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Cynorkis brevicalcar

Photo: Gary Brown
Lichenya to Likubula path, Mt Mulanje

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Synonyms: Cynorkis sp. in Morris, Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi: 27 (1970).
Common names:
Frequency: Locally common
Status: Native
Description:
Terrestrial herb up to 21 cm high. Leaves 1–2 at the base, ovate to elliptic, 25–45 mm long, hairless. Peduncle 7–16 cm long, hairless, usually with 1 small bract-like leaf, c. 10 mm long, sheathing. Inflorescence 1.5–5 cm long, densely 4–many-flowered; bracts lanceolate, 4–12 mm long; ovary and pedicel 6–10 mm long, semi-erect, arched at top, purple, sparsely glandular-hairy. Flowers small, white or pale pink, with purple spots on the lip; scented. Dorsal sepal ovate, 2–3 mm long, very convex; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 4–6 mm long, spreading. Petals falcate, 2 mm long, forming hood with dorsal sepal. Lip tong-shaped, 3–6 mm long, with 2 obscure teeth less than 1 mm long at base. Spur 1–1.5 mm long, straight or slightly incurved.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: brevicalcar: with a short spur.
Habitat: Seepage slopes and wet areas in montane grassland, often in shallow soils overlying rock.
Altitude range: 1700 - 2310 m
Flowering time:Jan - Apr
Worldwide distribution: Known only from Mt Mulanje, Malawi
Malawi distribution: S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status: Endemic
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Monday 12 August 2019
Literature:

Cribb, P.J. & Stewart, J. (1985). Additions to the Orchid Flora of Tropical Africa Kew Bulletin 40(2) Pages 399 - 401. Protologue (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 55 - 57. (Includes a picture).

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 27. as Cynorkis sp. (Chapman 504)

Strugnell, A.M. (2002). Endemics of Mt. Mulanje. The endemic spermatophytes of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi Systematics and Geography of Plants 72 Page 18.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 133.

Other sources of information about Cynorkis brevicalcar:

External websites:

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


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: Cynorkis brevicalcar.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=218300, retrieved 29 March 2024

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