Flower
Perennial wet dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Flower
Perennial wet dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Flower
Perennial wet dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Habit
Perennial wet dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Habit
Perennial wet dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Inflorescence
Perennial wet dambo grassland
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
| Synonyms: |
Brachycorythis oligophylla Kraenzl. Platanthera angolensis Schltr. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Locally frequent |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Large leafy plant up to 65 cm tall from thick cylindrical roots; flowering stem leaves 5-10, up to 10 x 2.5 cm, lanceolate, sterile shoot leaves 2, up to 28 x 3.5 cm, oblanceolate and petiolate; inflorescence densely many flowered, 5.5-12.5 x 3-5 cm; ovary and pedicel 11-15 mm long; bracts up to 26 x 4.5 mm, lanceolate; flowers white or mauve, lip darker and spotted ; sepals elliptic, dorsal sepal 7-10.5 x 2.5-4.5 mm, lateral sepals usually slightly longer and oblique; petals 6-10 x 1.5-4.5 mm, obliquely oblanceolate or elliptic, attached to column at base; lip7-10 mm long, hypochile forming a sac-like spur 2.5-4.5 mm long, epichile 5.5-8 x 7-9.2 mm, 3-lobed in the apical half, lobes rounded and ±equal in length. |
| Type location: |
Angola |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | angolensis: from Angola, location of type specimen. |
| Habitat: | Swampy grassland and permanently wet dambos. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1200 - 1440 m |
| Flowering time: | Nov - Dec |
| Worldwide distribution: | From Angola east through Zambia and DRC to Tanzania. |
| FZ divisions: | N,W,C |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Nw,N,C |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Monday 10 February 2020 |
| Literature: |
Geerinck, D. (1984). Orchidaceae (premiere partie) Flore d'Afrique Centrale (Zaire - Rwanda - Burundi) Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Bruxelles Pages 38 - 39. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 18 - 20. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 117. Summerhayes, V.S. (1955). A revision of the genus Brachycorythis Kew Bulletin 10 Pages 250 - 251. Also as Brachycorythis oligophylla Vollesen, K. & Merrett, L. (2019). Field Guide to the (wetter) Zambian Miombo Woodland. Part 1 (Ferns & Monocots) GVPedia Communications Page 152. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 30 - 31. |