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Bolusiella iridifolia subsp. picea P.J. Cribb [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
Bolusiella iridifolia subsp. picea P.J. Cribb [family ORCHIDACEAE], in Kew Bull. 32: 180 (1977). —Ball, South. African Epiphyt. Orch.: 66 (1978). —Wood in F.T.E.A., Orchidaceae: 544 (1989). —la Croix et al., Orch. Malawi: 259 (1991). —Stewart, Orch. Kenya: 26 (1996). TAB. 134, A1–A13. Type: Zambia, Mafinga Mts., ii.1970, G. Williamson 1940 (K, holotype).
Bolusiella sp. [family ORCHIDACEAE], of Morris, Epiphyt. Orch. Malawi: 96 (1970).
Bolusiella sp. no. 1 [family ORCHIDACEAE], of Grosvenor in Excelsa 6: 78 (1976).
Bolusiella sp. [family ORCHIDACEAE], of Williamson, Orch. S. Centr. Africa: 190 (1977).
Information
Small epiphytic herb; stem 10–20 mm long; roots very fine, wiry, less than 1 mm in diameter.Leaves 5–9, imbricate, forming a fan; lamina 10–25 × 3–4 mm, ensiform, bilaterally flattened with a groove along the upper surface, fleshy, recurved, dark green.Inflorescences usually 2 per plant, arising below the leaves, 2–5 cm long, densely c. 20-flowered.Peduncle with c. 5 black, sheathing bracts, almost covering it completely.Pedicel and ovary c. 1 mm long; bracts 2–3 × 1 mm, ovate, almost covering the flowers, black.Flowers white, distichous, somewhat bell-shaped.Sepals c. 1.5 × 1 mm, ovate, subacute; petals similar but slightly shorter.Lip entire, 1–1.7 × 1 mm, triangular, obtuse; spur c. 0.5 mm long, conical, saccate, straight, green.Column c. 0.5 mm long.
Habitat
Montane and submontane evergreen rain forest and gulley forest, also in high altitude woodland on rocky outcrops, usually on moss- or lichen-covered tree trunks and branches
Altitude range
1400–2438 m.
2438
1400
Distribution
Malawi C Dedza Distr., Ciwawo (Chiwao) Hill, Chongoni Forest Reserve, epiphytic on Erythroxylum emarginatum, fr. 18.ix.1967, Salubeni 824 (K; SRGH).Malawi S Mulanje Mt., Chambe Plateau, on evergreen trees, 1800 m, Morris 342 (K; MAL).Zambia N Mafinga Mts., epiphytic on low trees, 2100 m, fl. ii.1970, G. Williamson 1940 (K).Zimbabwe E Mutare Distr., Vumba Mts., Norseland, 1500 m, fl. iii.1949, Wild 2803 (K; SRGH).Malawi N North Viphya, Chimaliro Hill, c. 1900 m, Hargreaves 622 (MAL).Zambia E Nyika Plateau, on trees on rocky outcrop, fl. viii.1968, G. Williamson 1056 (K).
Distribution (external)
Kenya
Tanzania
Notes
Subsp.iridifolia occurs in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Dem. Rep. Congo (Zaire), Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Grande Comore.It differs from subsp. picea in its spur which is more than 0.8 mm long, cylindrical-ellipsoid, ± dilated, and pendent or strongly incurved at right angles to the lip.It also differs in its brown floral bracts, mostly shorter than the flowers.
Bolusiella iridifolia subsp. picea P.J. Cribb [family ORCHIDACEAE]
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