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| Description: |
Terrestrial, lithophytic or epiphytic herb 11–15 cm high. Leaves 2 at the base, semi-erect, narrowly elliptic, 8–11 cm long, dark glossy-green. Peduncle hairless with 2–4 leaves, sheath-like, up to 13 mm long. Inflorescence c. 5 cm long, fairly densely up to 12-flowered; bracts lanceolate, c. 7 mm long. Sepals green, petals magenta, lip bright magenta-pink. Dorsal sepal ovate, 3.5–5 mm long, very convex; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 4 mm long. Petals similar to lateral sepals, forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip wedge-shaped, 10 × 12 mm, 3-lobed with the mid-lobe reduced to a small point. Side lobes 5–8 mm long and wide. Spur 7–8 mm long, parallel to the ovary, swollen at apex. |
| Type location: |
Rwanda |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | symoensii:after Jean-Jacques A. Symoens (1927-2014), Belgian botanist. |
| Habitat: | |
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| Flowering time: | Apr |
| Worldwide distribution: | Rwanda, Tanzania and northern Malawi. |
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| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 27. Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 608. (Includes a picture). Fischer, E., Killmann, D., Delepierre, G. & Lebel, J-P. (2010). The Orchids of Rwanda Koblenz Geographical Colloquia Series Biogeographical Monographs 2 Page 161. (Includes a picture). Geerinck, D. (1977). Deux nouvelles espèces d' Orchidaceae pour le Rwanda et le Burundi Bulletin du Jardin Botanique national de Belgique 47(3/4) Page 484. Protologue Geerinck, D. (1988). Orchidaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 545. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 55. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 49. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 172. |