Entry for Ancistrorhynchus tenuicaulis Summerh. [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 11, Part 2, (1998) Author: I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb
Names
Ancistrorhynchus tenuicaulisSummerh. [family ORCHIDACEAE], in Kew Bull. 8: 590 (1954). —Cribb in F.T.E.A., Orchidaceae: 589 (1989). —la Croix et al., Orch. Malawi: 255 (1991). —Geerinck in Fl. Afr. Centr., Orchidaceae pt. 2: 568 (1992). TAB. 131. Type from Uganda.
Information
Small, slender epiphytic herb; stem up to 16 cm long, the lower part covered with brown, sheathing leaf bases; roots c. 2 mm in diameter, arising at the base.Leaves 5–9, 3–7 cm × 4–9 mm, linear to ligulate, unequally 2-lobed at the apex.Inflorescences borne in axils of leaf bases and lower leaves, on underside of stem, densely several-flowered on a short peduncle.Ovary and pedicel 3 mm long; bracts 3 × 3 mm, ovate, brownish.Flowers white, bell-shaped, the anther cap with a green mark.Sepals and petals oblong, obtuse; sepals 2–3.3 × 1–1.7 mm, petals very slightly smaller.Lip 1.8–2.6 × 1.6–3 mm, oblong to ± orbicular, concave, entire; spur 1.5–2.3 × 1.5–2.3, saccate, slightly flattened dorso-ventrally.Column short and stout, less than 1 mm long; stipites 2, subspathulate.
Habitat
Low-level epiphyte in riverine forest and thicket
Altitude range
c. 1300 m.
1300
1300
Distribution
Malawi N Nkhata Bay Distr., Choma Livestock Centre, near Mzuzu, 1300 m, fl. 8.ii.1986, I.F. & E.A.S. la Croix 797 (K; MAL).
Distribution (external)
Zaire
Rwanda
Uganda
Tanzania
Notes
This inconspicuous, small species has apparently the most southerly distribution of the genus.
