Polystachya epiphytica De Wild.

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Habit
Scree grassland over granite pavement
Swana-Mukanzu, Lualaba Province
Oct 2024
Photo: Nick Wightman

Flowers
Scree grassland over granite pavement
Swana-Mukanzu, Lualaba Province
Oct 2024
Photo: Nick Wightman

Pseudobulbs
Scree grassland over granite pavement
Swana-Mukanzu, Lualaba Province
Oct 2024
Photo: Nick Wightman

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Dwarf, epiphytic herb 2.5–10 cm high. Pseudobulbs 5–8 × 4–5 mm, ovoid, 2–3-leaved; roots c. 1 mm in diameter. Leaves 3–8.5 × 0.5–1 cm, oblanceolate, conduplicate. Inflorescence 2–9-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 5–7 mm long, very slender. Bracts c. 3.5 × 3.5 mm, ovate, acuminate. Flowers bright orange, the lip with minute red dots, column orange-yellow. Dorsal sepal 6–8.7 × 3.3–4 mm, ovate; lateral sepals 8–10.5 × 4.6–5.7 mm, obliquely ovate; mentum 3.8–4.5 mm high. Petals 5.3–6.7 × 1.5–1.7 mm, oblanceolate. Lip 6–7.3 × 4.4–5 mm, 3-lobed; mid-lobe 4–4.8 × 3 mm, ovate, fleshy, rugulose-bullate; side lobes slightly tessellate; disk with very short hairs. Capsule 2 cm long, ellipsoid.
Type location:	DRC (Katanga)
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	epiphytica: relating to a plant that grows upon another plant but does not take nutrients from the host..
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	DRC and Zambia
National distribution:
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 11 January 2025
Literature:	La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 352 - 353. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 122 - 123. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Polystachya epiphytica:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Polystachya epiphytica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Polystachya epiphytica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Polystachya epiphytica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Polystachya epiphytica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Polystachya epiphytica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Polystachya epiphytica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Polystachya epiphytica
JSTOR Plant Science: Polystachya epiphytica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Polystachya epiphytica
Plants of the World Online: Polystachya epiphytica
Tropicos: Polystachya epiphytica
Wikipedia: Polystachya epiphytica