Polystachya parva Summerh. 1942 SECTION Humiles
Photos by © Frederic Melki
Drawing by © Stella Ross-Craig
Common Name The Small Polystachya
Flower Size
Found in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Rwanda, Zambia, and Tanzania on mossy branches in relict rainforests at elevations around 1400 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with a chain of green, ovoid, slightly compressed pseudobulbs carrying 2 to 3, spreading, linear-ligulate to lanceolate-ligulate, obtuse, slightly bilobed apcially leaves that blooms in the summer on an erect, peduncle .28 to .52" [7 to 13 mm] long, with 1 to 2 bracts, 1 to 2" [2.5 to 5 cm] long overall, as long as to slightly longer than the leaves, rachis shortly pubescent, densely 1 to 6 flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acuminate, shorter to as long as the ovary and carrying, spreading, fragrant green flowers.
Synonyms Polystachya bertauxiana Szlach. & Olszewski 2001; Polystachya billietiana Geerinck 1985; Unguiculabia parva (Summerh.) Szlach. & Mytnik 2008
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchids of South Central Africa Williamson 1977 drawing fide; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Orchidaceae Part 2 Pope 1998 drawing fide
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