Platycoryne latipetala Summerh. 1958 Drawing by © Judi Stone

LATE EARLY

Common Name The Broad Petal Platycoryne

Flower Size

Found in Zaire and Zambia in perrenially wet boggy grasslands at elevations around 1400 meters as a medium sized, cool growing terrestrial with ovoid tubers giving rise to an erect stem carrying a few, spread out, sheathing leaves that blooms in the late spring and early summer on an erect, short, dense, to 6 flowered inflorescence with imbricate, broadly lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the ovary flora lbracts and carrying bright yellow flowers.

"Characterized by the broad lateral sepals, which are not deflexed as is normal for the genus and consequently give the flower a different appearance. In basic construction, however, P. latipetala agrees well with other species of Platycoryne, particularly the leaf arrangement, the short dense inflorescence, the large convex intermediate sepal and the detailed structure of the column. The present species is especially notable for the very broad petals and labellum ; all the perianth members are several nerved with numerous cross-veins between the nerves." Summerhayes 1958

Synonyms Platycoryne grandiflora Summerh. 1958; Platycoryne latipetala var. grandiflora (Summerh.) Geerinck 1982

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Kew Bull. 13: 64 Summerhayes 1958

The Orchids of South Central Africa Williamson 1977 drawing fide;

Flore D'Afrique Centrale [Zaire- Rwands - Burundi] Orhidaceae Premeir parte Geerink 1984;

Flore D'Afrique Centrale [Zaire- Rwands - Burundi] Orhidaceae Premeir parte Geerink 1984 as P latipetala var grandiflora;

Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Orchidaceae Part 1 Pope 1995 drawing fide

Orchidaceae of West Central Africa Vol 1: 172 Szlatchecko etal 2010 drawing fide

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