Cynorkis flexuosa Lindl. 1835 SECTION Cynorchis

Photo by Olaf Pronk and Laurette E.U.R.L. orchids of Madagascar

MID THROUGH

Common Name The Arching Cynorkis [refers to the inflorescence]

Flower Size 3/4" [1.8cm]

Found in Madagascar on rocks in dry prairies and in marshes in peaty soil at elevations 90 to 2000 meters as a small to just medium sized, hot to cool growing lithophytic orchid with elongated and villous tubers giving rise to a solitary, lingulate-linear leaf that blooms in the mid spring, summer through fall on a glabrous, rachis elongate and flexuous, loosely flowered inflorescence enveloped below by two sheaths.

This species tubers are eaten in eastern Madgascar

Synonyms Cynorkis fallax Schltr. 1916; Cynorkis flexuosa var. ambongensis H.Perrier 1931; Cynorkis flexuosa var. bifoliata Schltr. 1916; Cynosorchis fallax Schltr 1916; Cynosorchis flexuosa (Lindl.) Rchb. f. 1881; Cynosorchis flexuosa var. ambongensis H.Perrier 1931; Cynosorchis flexuosa var. bifoliata Schltr. 1916; Gymnadenia lyallii Steud. 1840

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Otia Botanica Hamburgensia Rchb.f 1878 as Cynosorchis flexuosa; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81 as Cynosorchis fallax; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81 as Cynosorchis flexuosa; Genera Orchidacearum Vol 2 Part One Pridgeon, Cribb, Chase and Rasmussen 2001 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 12 2003 photo fide; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 78 #3 2009 photo fide; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #6 2015 photo fide; Les Orchidees de Madagascar Bosser & Lecoufle 2015 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #8 2016 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 81 #3 2017 photo fide; A la Recherche des Orchidees de Madagascar Hervouet 2018 photo fide;

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