Flora Zambesiaca

Taxon Detail

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FZ volume:11 part:2 (1998) Orchidaceae by I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb

(Search other Kew databases for: Angraecum cultriforme)

Angraecum cultriforme Summerh.

in Kew Bull. 13: 272 (1958). ?Morris, Epiphyt. Orch. Malawi: 87 (1970). ?Grosvenor in Excelsa 6: 78 (1976). ?Williamson, Orch. S. Centr. Africa: 180 (1977). ?Ball, South. African Epiphyt. Orch.: 56 (1978). ?Stewart et al., Wild Orch. South. Africa: 257 (1982). ?Cribb in F.T.E.A., Orchidaceae: 498 (1989). ?la Croix et al., Orch. Malawi: 239 (1991). ?Stewart, Orch. Kenya: 18 (1996). Type from Tanzania.

Distribution:

Malawi

S: Mulanje Distr., Lichenya Forest Reserve, 550 m, fl. 10.i.1986, la Croix & Spurrier 779 (K).

Mozambique

MS: Sofala Prov., Inhansato, 50 m, fl. 16.iii.1956, Gomes e Sousa 4299 (K).

Zambia

W: Nchunga Falls, fl. 26.xii.1935, R.A.F. Brenan 5 (K).

Zimbabwe

E: Mutasa Distr., Honde Valley, xii.1961, Plowes in Ball 945 (SRGH).

Range:

Kenya;  South Africa;  Tanzania; 

Habitat:

Riverine forest and thicket, hanging in tangles from small branches, usually low down on host plant 50?700 m.

Description:

Pendent epiphytic herb; stem elongated, sometimes branched, up to c. 20 cm long.Roots 1?2 mm in diameter, borne along the stem opposite leaves.Leaves several, distichous, twisted at the base so as to lie in one plane, 3?6 × 0.5?0.9 cm, ligulate, falcate, unequally and acutely 2-lobed at the apex, the longer lobe to 7 mm long, the lobes often slightly divergent, the leaves olive-green often tinged reddish or orange.Inflorescences borne along the stem, opposite leaves, arising at same place in successive years, 1?2-flowered, the second bud usually aborting.Flowers orange-straw coloured.Peduncle 15?25 mm long; pedicel c. 7 mm long; ovary 5 mm long, forming a right angle with the pedicel.Bracts c. 4 mm long.Sepals 9?21 × 2.3?3.8 mm, lanceolate, acute; petals similar but slightly shorter.Lip 8?15 × 3.3?6 mm, boat-shaped, acuminate; spur 13?26 mm long, somewhat swollen in last 7 mm.Flowers often non-resupinate, with the spur lying parallel to the dorsal sepal.Column 1.3?2 mm long.

Notes:

This species is variable in size of flower; those of Malawi plants are at the bottom end of the size range, but the type specimen is also rather small-flowered.For a discussion of the relationship between A. cultriforme, A. stolzii and A. umbrosum, see last species.

Flora Zambesiaca