Schizochilus lepidus Summerh. [family ORCHIDACEAE]

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 11, Part 1, (1995) Author: I. la Croix and P.J. Cribb
Names
Schizochilus lepidus Summerh. [family ORCHIDACEAE], in Kew Bull. 14: 130 (1960). —Grosvenor in Excelsa 6: 86 (1976). —Linder in J. S. African Bot. 46: 419 (1980). Type: Mozambique, Mt. Tsetserra, Wild 4471 (K, holotype; PRE; SRGH).
Information
Plants slender, 15–25 cm tall.Basal sheaths 2, white to hyaline, up to 3 cm long, obtuse, apiculate.Leaves 8–12, scattered on the stem, the lower 2–5 semi-erect, 3–8 cm long, narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, acute, the remaining leaves more or less sheathing, c. 1 cm long, lanceolate, acute.Inflorescence semi-dense, 2–8 cm long, 20–30-flowered, nodding; bracts 5–7 mm long, narrowly acute or acuminate.Flowers c. 5 mm in diameter, yellow.Sepals subequal, 3-nerved, 4.5–6.5 mm long, acute to apiculate; dorsal sepal elliptic, concave; lateral sepals somewhat longer than the dorsal sepal, oblique, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, shallowly concave.Petals 1-nerved, 2.5–4 mm long, obliquely ovate-rhomboid, acute.Lip 4–6.5 mm long; epichile 3-lobed, central lobe 1–2.5 mm long, lateral lobes c. half as long; disk with 3 obscure calli; spur 1.5–2 mm long, subclavate.Anther c. 1.5 mm long,Ovary 5–7 mm long.
Habitat
Montane grassland
Range
Eastern border mountains of Zimbabwe
Altitude range
usually above 2000 m.
5895
2000
inferred only bottom
Distribution
Zimbabwe E Mt. Binga, fl. 29.i.1966, Pereira 39 (K).Mozambique MS Mt. Tsetserra, 2140 m, 7.ii.1955, Exell, Mendonça & Wild 232 (LISC).
Notes
This species is very closely allied to S. zeyheri from South Africa, a very variable species, and its separation may not be warranted.It can be distinguished by the short, sub-clavate spur.
Schizochilus lepidus Summerh. [family ORCHIDACEAE]
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