Polystachya fallax Kraenzel 1926 SECTION Cultriformis [Thouars] Sprengel

Photo by Eric Hunt, Plant grown by Marni Turkel.

Common Name The Decieving Polystachya

Flower Size 1/2" [1.25 cm]

This is a small sized, cool growing, epiphytic species that is found in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire in rainforests at elevations of 1350 to 1600 meters with conical-fusiform pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, erect, ligulate-lanceolate, rounded apically, deciduous leaf and blooms on an erect, 2 " [5 cm] long, shorter than the leaf, few [7] flowered inflorescence carrying fragrant jsmine to fruity scented flowers subtended by a scarious sheath occuring in the summer.

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of East Africa Piers 1968; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 2 Cribb 1984; Die Die Orchideen Band 1B lieferung 23 1393 - 1456 Brieger 1990 photo good; The Manual Of Cultivated Orchid Species Bechtel, Cribb & Launert 1992 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 58 #2 1994; African Orchids in The Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997 drawing good; Orchid Digest vol 71 #3 2007photo fide; Orchidaceae of West Central Africa Vol 2 Szlachetko etal 2015 drawing ok; Orchid Digest Vol 80 #2 2016

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