Holothrix orthoceras Harv. Rchb.f. [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
Holothrix orthoceras Harv. Rchb.f. [family ORCHIDACEAE], in Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 119 (1881). —Goodier & Phipps in Kirkia 1: 52 (1961). —Dyer (ed.), Fl. Pl. Afr. 36: t.1469 (1964). —Morris, Epiphyt. Orch. Malawi: 29 (1970). —Grosvenor in Excelsa 6: 83 (1976). —Stewart et al., Wild Orch. South. Africa: 62 (1982). —la Croix et al., Orch. Malawi: 40 (1991). Type from South Africa.
Tryphia orthoceras Harv. [family ORCHIDACEAE], in Thes. Cap. 2: 4, t.105 (1863).
Information
Terrestrial herb 10–26 cm tall.Tubers up to 20 × 15 mm, ovoid.Leaves 2, appressed to ground, 3–6.5 × 1.5–4.2 cm, ovate, glabrous, dark green with whitish veining.Scape sparsely hairy, without sheaths.Inflorescence 6–11 cm long, up to 20-flowered, flowers secund; ovary 6 mm long; bracts 4–5 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.Flowers white with 5 purple lines on lip, one running to each lobe.Sepals green, sparsely hairy, 2.5–3 × 1 mm, ovate.Petals 3–5 × 1 mm, lanceolate, acute, erect.Lip 7–12 × 3.5–5 mm, with 1 pair of lobes 1–2 mm long near base; mid-lobe 4–6 mm long, cuneate with 3 shallow teeth.Spur 2–2.8 mm long, conical.
Habitat
Submontane grassland or amongst mossy rocks, sometimes in heavy shade
Altitude range
1500–2050 m.
2050
1500
Distribution
Zimbabwe E Nyanga (Inyanga), lip of Pungwe Falls, fl. 15.x.1953, Chase in GHS 44155 (K; SRGH).Malawi C Dedza Mt., near radio mast, fl. & fr. 24.iv.1970, Brummitt 10125 (K).Malawi S Mulanje Mt., Lichenya Path, fl. & fr. 5.vi.1962, Richards 16531 (K).
Distribution (external)
South Africa
Holothrix orthoceras Harv. Rchb.f. [family ORCHIDACEAE]
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