| Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Holothrix | > | papillosa |
| Synonyms: |
Holothrix brachycheira Summerh. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Terrestrial herb 9–32 cm tall.Tubers 2, up to 13 × 8 mm, ovoid.Leaves 2, appressed to ground, 10–23 × 7–33 mm, orbicular to reniform, pilose above.Scape without sheaths, with long spreading hairs.Inflorescence 2–8 cm long, fairly densely 2– to many-flowered, flowers secund; ovary 3 mm long; bracts 1–4 mm long, ovate, pubescent.Flowers white, non-resupinate, c. 6 mm long including ovary.Sepals green or purplish, 1.7–3 × 1.3–1.4 mm, ovate, long ciliate.Petals 2.5–6 mm long, densely papillose, 3-lobed to about one third of the length.Lip 2.5–5 mm long, similar to petals but with 5–7 lobes.Spur 1.5–3 mm long, conical, obscure, straight.Anther 1 mm high.Ovary pubescent. (Source: JSTOR/FZ) |
| Type location: |
Tanzania |
| Notes: | Holothrix brachycheira from the Mwinilunga area has small flowers (petals 2–2.7 mm long, lip 2.5–2.9 mm long) but falls within the range of variation of H. papillosa, which varies considerably in size depending largely on the habitat. |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | Montane grassland, Brachystegia woodland |
| Altitude range: | 1650 - 2300 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia |
| Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): | W,E |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Nw,N,Mc |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 329. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 38. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 40. (Includes a picture). Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 30. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 122. Summerhayes, V.S. (1960). African orchids XXVII Kew Bulletin 14(1) Pages 127 - 129. Protologue and also as Holothrix brachycheira (Protologue) Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 23 - 26. Also as Holothrix brachycheira (Includes a picture). |
| Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Holothrix | > | papillosa |