| Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Platycoryne | > | protearum |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Rare |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Terrestrial herb 18-50 cm tall growing from globose to ellipsoid tubers c. 10-20 x 5-10 mm; leaves 4-8, lowermost sheath-like, next 2-3 largest, c. 20-60 x 3-8 mm, lanceolate, upper leaves erect, bract-like; inflorescence laxly 1-5-flowered; flowers green with petals and lip orange; bracts 17-22 mm long; pedicel 12-20 mm long, ovary 12-15 mm long, arched; dorsal sepal erect, ovate, convex, 6-8 x 3.5-6 mm; lateral sepals deflexed, 6.5-8 x 2-3 mm, obliquely lanceolate; petals entire, 5-7 x 1.5-3.5 mm, obliquely triangular-lanceolate, adnate to dorsal sepal; lip deflexed, 5-7 x 2.5-3 mm, entire, fleshy, convex, narrowly oblong; spur 2-3.5 cm long, slender but swollen at apex, usually enclosed within the bracts. Differs from var. protearum in the whole plant being smaller and having the mid-lobe of the rostellum curving backwards and being shorter that the anther thecae. |
| Type location: |
Zambia, Kawambwa District |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | Wet grassland and marshy or seepage areas amongst rocks |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1050 - 2200 m |
| Flowering time: | Dec - Jan |
| Worldwide distribution: | Zambia |
| National distribution: | N |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Lp,N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | Endemic |
| Red data list status: | Lower Risk - near threatened |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 149. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 69. |
| Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Platycoryne | > | protearum |