Microcoelia aphylla (Thouars) Summerh. 1936
Photo by © Lourens Grobler
Photo by Patrick Henschke
Plant and Flowers in situ Reunion
Photos by © François Vandeschricke and The Orchidees de Reunion Website
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Common Name The Leafless Microcoelia
Flower Size .1 to .2" [2 to 3mm]
Found in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Zanzibar, the Mascarene Islands and Mozambique at elevations of sea level to 300 meters in thickets and bushes near the coast as a miniature sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with slender elongate stems giving rise to many roots all along and no leaves. The orchid blooms in the winter and spring on many, all along the stem, .4 to 1" [1 to 2.5 cm] long, 8 to 16 flowered inflorescence.
Synonyms Aerobion aphyllum (Thouars) Spreng. 1826; *Angraecum aphyllum Thouars 1822; Angraecum defoliatum Schltr. 1913; Epidorkis aphylla (Thouars) Kuntze 1891; Gastrochilus aphyllus (Thouars) Kuntze 1891; Gussonea aphylla (Thouars) A. Rich. 1828; Gussonea defoliata (Schltr.) Schltr. 1915; Mystacidium aphyllum (Thouars) Cordem. 1895; Rhaphidorhynchus aphyllus (Thouars) Finet 1907; Saccolabium aphyllum (Thouars) Lindl. 1833; Solenangis aphylla (Thouars) Summerh. 1943
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Historie Particulier des Plantes Orchidees Recueilles Sur Trois Iles Australes d'Afrique Thouars 1822 as Angraecum aphyllum drawing fide; Otia Botanica Hamburgensia Rchb.f 1881 as Angraecum aphyllum; Orchids of East Africa Piers 1968; Rudolph Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1B lieferung 16/17/18 945-1128 Brieger 1985 as Solenangis aphylla drawing/photo fide; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1939/1981 as Gussonea aphylla; Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1939/1981 as Gussonea aphylla var typica; Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1939/1981 as Gussonea aphylla var defoliata; Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1939/1981 as Gussonea aphylla var orientalis; Orchids of Kenya Stewart & Campbell 1996 as Solenangis aphylla photo ok; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997 as Solenangis aphylla; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Orchidaceae Part 2 Pope 1998 as Solenangis aphylla drawing/photo fide; Orchids of Southern Africa Linder & Kurzweil 1999 as Solenangis aphylla; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006 photo fide; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009 photo fide; Mille et Une Mini Orchideees Roguenant 2009 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 84 #10 2015 photo fide; Les Orchidees de Madagascar Bosser & Lecoufle 2015 photo fide; A la Recherche des Orchidees de Madagascar Hervouet 2018 photo fide;
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