Habit
Moist edges of open seepage dambo grassland
Kapuba area, Solwezi District
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Inflorescence
Moist edges of open seepage dambo grassland
Kapuba area, Solwezi District
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
Flowers
Moist edges of open seepage dambo grassland
Kapuba area, Solwezi District
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman
| Synonyms: |
Brachycorythis hirschbergii Braid |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
Robust terrestrial herb up to 70 cm tall with cylindrical tuberous roots. Leaves numerous, lanceolate, up to 7.5 × 3 cm, decreasing in size and narrower up the stem. Inflorescence up to 23 cm long and 5 cm wide, densely many-flowered; bracts leaf-like, up to 34 mm long. Flowers purple-pink, spotted, inner parts often whitish. Sepals elliptic or oblong; dorsal sepal 5–7 mm long; lateral sepals 5.5–7.5 mm long, oblique. Petals narrowly oblong, 4–7.5 mm long. Lip obovate or oblong, 8–12 mm long, 3-lobed in apical third, mid-lobe larger than the side lobes. Spur ar the base of the lip conical 2–3.5 mm long. |
| Type location: |
DRC, Katanga |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | congoensis: of Congo. |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | DRC, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 54. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 78. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 18. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 30. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 94. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 171. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 117. Summerhayes, V.S. (1955). A revision of the genus Brachycorythis Kew Bulletin 10 Page 250. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 30 - 31. (Includes a picture). |