Polystachya suaveolens P.J.Cribb 1978 SECTION Isochiloides Drawing by © M E Church/Cribb

Common Name The Soft Smelling Polystachys

Flower Size

Found in Malawi and Tanzania in rainforests at elevations of 1200 to 2000 meters as a small sized, cool growing epiphyte with slender, obscurely pseudobulbous basally, ovoid stems carrying 2+ apical, linear, suberect, acute, basally articulate to the sheath leaves that blooms in the spring on an erect, to 3.6" [9 cm] long, branched, each branch suberect and short, rachis enveloped completely by scarious, tubular, acute bracts, several flowered inflorescence with lanceolate, acuminate floral bracts and carrying subglabrous, spicily scented flowes with greenish yellow sepals edged with crimson, yellow petals and a crimson callus.

Synonyms Isochilostachya suaveolens (P.J.Cribb) Mytnik & Szlach. 2011

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Malawi Orchids vol 1 La Croix 1983 drawing fide; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 2 Cribb 1984 drawing fide; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Orchidaceae Part 2 Pope 1998 drawing fide

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