Compilation
Polystachya elegans

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Name

Identification
Polystachya elegans Rchb.f. [family ORCHIDACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Summerhayes, V. S.,
Related name
  • Polystachya elegans
  • Polystachya ridleyi

Flora

Entry for POLYSTACHYA elegans Reichb. f. [family ORCHIDACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol 7, page 12, (1898) Author: (By R. A. Rolfe.)
Names
POLYSTACHYA elegans Reichb. f. [family ORCHIDACEAE], Otia Bot. Hamb. ii. 113.
Information
Plant 1 ft. high. Stems stoutish, cylindrical, 3–4-leaved, 3–5 in. long. Leaves linear-oblong, obtuse, 3–5 in. long, 4–7 lin. broad. Panicles 4–5 in. long, branched; branches densely puberulous, many-flowered. Bracts setaceous, acuminate from a slightly broader base, 1–1 1/4 in. long. Pedicels 1 lin. long. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, acute, concave, 1 lin. long; lateral triangular-ovate, acuminate. Petals lanceolate-oblong, acute, 1 lin. long. Lip 2 lin. long, broadly unguiculate; side lobes rounded, obtuse; front lobe broadly triangular-ovate, mucronate; disc glabrous. Column stout, 1/3 lin. long. Chin oblong-obtuse, 1 1/4 lin. long. Capsule broadly pyriform-oblong, 1 1/2 lin. long.
Distribution
Upper Guinea Cameroon Mountains, 4000–6000 ft., Mann, 1338! 2113!
Notes
In the dried state the flowers become a dull cinnabar-orange colour. A plant from the island of St. Thomas, which has been referred here by Ridley, is distinct. See next species.

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