Polystachya oblanceolata Summerh. 1956 SECTION Polystachya

HOLOTYPE Collection Sheet by © and Kew's Plants of the World Website

Common Name The Oblanceolate Polystachya

Flower Size

Found in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cameroon in montane forests at elevation around 600 meters as a mini-miniature sized, warm growing epiphyte with erect stems carrying 2 to 3, suberect to somewhat divergent that blooms in the spring on a termina, simple, 1.6 to 1.8" [4 to 4.5 cm] long, densely 5 to 8 flowered inflorescence with more or less patent, linear-lanceolate, acute, longer than the ovary floral bracts and carrying suberect flowers.

"This charming little species seems best placed in sect. Polystachya though it shows some resemblances to species in sects. Calluniflorae and Affines. It seems closest to P. dolichophylla , taking the floral structure and general growth characters into consideration, but the two species are very unlike both as regards size and other features. The shape of the labellum is rather exceptional for the genus, being quite entire with the basal part narrow; in most other species with simple labella the lower half is the widest part. The very hairy flowers and extremely short mentum recall many species in sect. Affines but in other features there is no agreement." Summerhayes 1954

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

* Kew Bull. 11: 231 Summerhayes 1956

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------