Satyrium buchananii Schltr.

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge, in one of the dambos (Mpika Distr., Muchinga Province)

Photo: Jakob Fahr
Serenje Central

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Synonyms:	Satyrium kassnerianum Kraenzl. Satyrium longissimum Rolfe Satyrium nyassense Kraenzl. Satyrium stolzianum Kraenzl.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb 30-70 cm tall with separate sterile and fertile shoots; tubers ovoid, 1.5-4 x 1-2 cm, tomentose; sterile shoots 3-5 leaved, developing at flowering, lowermost 2-3 leaves sheath-like, upper leaves up to 20 x 3.5 cm, lanceolate; flowering stem with 5-8 sheathing leaves, sometimes imbricate, up to 8 cm long; inflorescence 8-14 x 3-5 cm, laxly up to 20-flowered; ovary and pedicel 10-15 mm long, curved; bracts pinkish-brown, c. 30 mm at base of inflorescence; flowers white, scented; sepals and petals deflexed, joined to each other and lip in basal quarter; dorsal sepal 10-13 x 1.5-3 mm, oblong, rounded at apex; lateral sepals slightly longer and wider, oblique; petals similar to dorsal sepal but usually slightly wider with the margin ciliolate; lip 10-15 mm long and wide when spread out, very convex and hooded with the apex recurved, wide mouthed, hairy inside towards apex; spurs 4.5-7.5 cm long, slender, pendent; column 7.5-10 mm high; stigma 2-4 x 4-6 mm.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	buchananii: after John Buchanan (1855 – 1896), Scottish horticulturist, missionary, farmer and plant collector in Malawi, who became Acting British Consul to Central Africa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buchanan_(settler).
Habitat:	Dambo and wet montane grassland
Altitude range: (metres)	1300 - 2300 m
Flowering time:	Oct – Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Angola through DRC to Tanzania south to Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 228 - 229. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 333. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 69. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 85. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 210 - 212. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 133. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 97. Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 59 - 60. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 94 - 95. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 84.

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Flora of Malawi: Satyrium buchananii
Flora of Zambia: Satyrium buchananii

External websites:

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