Polystachya kaluluensis

[Melanie]

Endemism: Endemic
Threats: Deforestation, agriculture, habitat degradation
Distribution: South Malawi
This species may already be extinct since virtually all
the trees from its forest habitat have been felled and
much of the land is under agriculture.

[Melanie]

Polystachya kaluluensis P.J. Cribb & la Croix
in la Croix et al., Orch. Malawi: 233 (1991). Type: Malawi, Thyolo Distr., Kalulu Hills, 27.xi.1983, Hutson in la Croix 512 (K, holotype).

Distribution:

Malawi
S: Thyolo Distr., Kalulu Hills, 800–900 m, fl. 27.xi.1983, Hutson in la Croix 512 (K).

Range:

So far known only from the Kalulu Hills.

Habitat:

Epiphytic and lithophytic in Brachystegia woodland, occasionally in riverine forest 800–900 m.

Description:

Small epiphytic or lithophytic herb up to c. 12 cm tall.Pseudobulbs clustered, 10–15 × 6–8 mm, ovoid or almost globose, with 3 nodes, 3–5-leaved.Leaves 5–15 × 0.7–1.5 cm, linear-oblanceolate, conduplicate, grey-green with a purple margin, the lower surface pale green with purple veins.Inflorescence (floral axis) 8.5–12 cm tall, fairly densely 3–10-flowered.Peduncle, rhachis and bracts all pubescent.Pedicel and ovary 7–10 mm long; bracts 6–10 × 6 mm, ovate, long apiculate, whitish.Sepals pubescent on outside; sepals and petals greyish-cream striped with purple; lip white, the side lobes purple-veined.Dorsal sepal 10–12 × 2–4 mm, lanceolate, acute; lateral sepals 12–15 × 5 mm, obliquely subfalcate, lanceolate, acuminate; mentum 4 mm long, obliquely conical.Petals 7–10 × 1–2 mm, oblanceolate.Lip fleshy, recurved, 8–10 × 4 mm, 3-lobed, with a callus forming a glabrous, rounded ridge between the lobes; mid-lobe 6 × 2 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, rugulose; side lobes erect, rounded, papillose on the margins.Column 0.5–1 mm long.

apps.kew.org/efloras/namedetail.do;jsessionid=45C716A85DF58A5815A9BA24ED8B321E?flora=fz&qry=key&taxon=9456&keyid=2170

[alex]

Polystachya kaluluensis



source:

I. F. LaCroix; E. A. S. La Croix; T. M. La Croix: Orchids of Malaŵi: the epiphytic and terrestrial orchids from South and East Central Africa. Balkema, Rotterdam (1991)

[koeiyabe]

plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000049498?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3DPolystachya%2Bkaluluensis

Last collected specimen