Images taken by Nicholas Wightman

Plants can often be found in areas prone to annual fires

Plants can often be found in areas prone to annual fires

Close up of the flower showing the green central band on each tepal

Bulb showing the fibrous neck.

Recently described by Tom McCoy in Cactus and Succulent Journal, 89(6): 276-279.

Recently described by Tom McCoy in Cactus and Succulent Journal, 89(6): 276-279.

Recently described by Tom McCoy in Cactus and Succulent Journal, 89(6): 276-279.

Mature bulbs displaying long neck

The pure white flowers open about an hour after sunset.

By the first morning, the flowers have developed a slight pink tinge.

The inflorescence sometimes opens in succession leading to a contrast of the new and old flowers.

The infructescence develops quickly after fertilization producing sometimes dozens of seeds.

Seeds are irregular in shape due to their development and can range from pea-sized to over 1cm across.

The inflorescence begins to open in the early evening and the spadix emits a carrion-like odour to attract pollinators

Fully expanded flower shedding pollen the morning after the inflorescence first opened.

Inflorescences can appear from late October through to late December.

Fully expanded leaf with ripening seedhead.

Fully expanded leaf with ripening seedhead.

Ripening berries can range in colour from orange to red and are dispersed by birds such as Bulbils.

The berries generally contain 1 to 2 seeds which are recalcitrant and germinate within several weeks from ripening.

The tubers are generally roundish to depressed globose depending on age and produce rhizomatous offsets as a means of vegetative propagation.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Large clumps growing on rocks and tree trunks with Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Cyrtorchis crassiflora, Bulbophyllum expallidum, Tridactyle sp. and Polystachya sp.

Large clumps growing on rocks and tree trunks with Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Cyrtorchis crassiflora, Bulbophyllum expallidum, Tridactyle sp. and Polystachya sp.

Large clumps growing on rocks and tree trunks with Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Cyrtorchis crassiflora, Bulbophyllum expallidum, Tridactyle sp. and Polystachya sp.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

The thin pods split along a the edge to release the narrow seeds, each with a tuft of hair to aid dispersion

The tubers are roundish to discoid in shape usually with a projection from the centre where the annual stems emerge.

Tubers appear to be stoloniferous in habit

The fleshy roots emerge from a short rhizome

Clumped habit

Single habit

Clumped habit

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Close up of the dense inflorescence

Plant with immature seedpods found growing just above a drainage basin of the Munali Hills

Plant with immature seedpods found growing just above a drainage basin of the Munali Hills

The indistinct rhizome with numerous stout tuberous roots

The terminal inflorescences typically appear towards the middle of the rains lasting into the early dry season

The terminal inflorescences typically appear towards the middle of the rains lasting into the early dry season

The terminal inflorescences typically appear towards the middle of the rains lasting into the early dry season

Unripe four lobed fruits.

The vertical rhizome can reach over 30cm in length and 2.5cm wide but are brittle and easily broken

Developing rhizomes adapt to obstacles during growth and can become misshapen.

Determined as Cynorkis hanningtonii

Determined as Cynorkis hanningtonii

Determined as Cynorkis hanningtonii

Determined as Cynorkis hanningtonii

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Subspecies not yet confirmed.
Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Subspecies not yet confirmed.
Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Subspecies not yet confirmed.
Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Plants only approx. 15 cm tall and mostly single flowered or rarely with two flowers.

Plants only approx. 15 cm tall and mostly single flowered or rarely with two flowers.

Plants only approx. 15 cm tall and mostly single flowered or rarely with two flowers.

Mature bulbs are loose with easily separated scales (which can be used for propagation) though they produce enough seed that it is usually not needed

The inflorescence appears in July to August as the cool dry season transitions into the hot dry season.

The inflorescence appears in July to August as the cool dry season transitions into the hot dry season.

The linear leaves appear with the arrival of the rains and are an attractive bluish green colour.

The black papery winged seeds ripen before the rains and are wind distributed.

Original location:Lat:-13.306722, Long:25.086128 Zambian prov. Nw, Altitude:1190

Photo taken at the type locality for the species

Photo taken at the type locality for the species