Satyrium bracteatum (L.f.) Thunb. 1794 SUBGENUS Brachysaccium

Flower Closeup Photos by © Lourens Grobler

Plant and Flowers in situ South Africa

Colony of Flowering plants in situ Photos by © Tyrone Genade

Common Name The Bracteate Satyrium [refers to the floral bracts]

Flower Size 1/2" [1.25 cm]

Found in Lesotho, and Cape Province, Natal and Transvaal South Africa in dry flats and wet marshy areas, peaty ledges and fissures amongst rocks at elevations of sea level to 2000 meters as a slender to stout, mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial orchid with 2, low to the ground, broadly lanceolate, acute basally clasping leaves and another 5 more erect ones above at intervals along the stem that blooms in the spring on an erect, 4" [10 cm] long, few flowered inflorescence with ovate, green with red, acute, recurved flroal bracts and carrying smaller, non-resupinate, scented [rotten meat] flowers.

Synonyms Diplectrum bracteatum (L.f.) Pers. 1807; *Ophrys bracteata L.f. 1782; Satyrium bowiei Rolfe 1912; Satyrium cordifolium Lindl. 1838; Satyrium dregei Rolfe 1912; Satyrium fanniniae Rolfe 1912; Satyrium lineatum Lindl. 1838; Satyrium paludicolum Schltr. 1895; Satyrium pictum Lindl. 1838; Satyrium saxicolum Bolus 1884

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982 photo fide; Orchids of Southern Africa Linder & Kurzwell 1999 photos fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 69 No 1 2000 photo fide; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008 photos fide; The Cape Orchids Vol 2 Liltved & Johnson 2012 photos/drawing fide; Orchid Digest Vol 80 #2 2016 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 81 #1 2017 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 83 #2 2019 photo fide;

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