Platycoryne buchananiana (Kraenzl.) Rolfe

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Habit
Seasonally wet dambo
Chlumbulwa area, Lufwanyama Distr.
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Inflorescence
Seasonally wet dambo
Lunkunyi area, Zambezi Distr.
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Flowers
Seasonally wet dambo
Sambweshi area, Solwezi Distr.
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

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

Synonyms:	Habenaria buchananiana Kraenzl. Habenaria ipyanae Schltr. Habenaria stolzii Kraenzl.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Slender terrestrial, 20 - 60 cm. Leaves along the stem, up to 5 cm, acting as bracts at the inflorescence. Inflorescence dense with 4 - 16 flowers, orange or yellow including the ovaries. Dorsal sepal erect, less than 9 mm, convex, forming a hood with the petals. Lip entire, hanging down or curved forwards, 5-10 mm. Spur 1-2 cm, pendent, slightly swollen near the apex.
Type location:	Malawi
Notes:	Very similar to Platycoryne pervillei, which is larger (dorsal sepal more than 9mm) and generally deeper in colour.
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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buchanan_(settler).
Habitat:	In poorly drained grassland, vleis and seepage slopes.
Altitude range:	500 - 1850 m
Flowering time:	Jan - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Cameroon, DRC, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	N,W,C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Cb,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 23 September 2020
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 29. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 69. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 84. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 149 - 150. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 102. (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. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. Summerhayes, V.S. (1958). African orchids XXV Kew Bulletin 13(1) Page 63. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 70 - 71. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Platycoryne buchananiana
Flora of Malawi: Platycoryne buchananiana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Platycoryne buchananiana

External websites:

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