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Synonyms: |
Nervilia sp. of Moriarty, Wild Flowers of Malawi: 57 (1975). Nervilia sp. no. 3 sensu Grosvenor (1976) Nervilia sp. (Williamson & Drummond 1639) of Williamson, Orch. S. Centr. Africa: 143 (1977). |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Locally frequent |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Erect terrestrial up to c. 30 cm high. Tuber subspherical to ovoid, up to 17 mm in diameter. Leaf solitary, apearing after flowering, erect, ovate, upto 6 × 4 cm, acute at the apex, hairless, pleated, dark olive green above with silvery lines along the veins, dark purple beneath; petiole c. 6 cm long. Inflorescence 1-flowered, rarely 2-flowered with 3-4 sheathing leaf-like bracts up to 4 cm long. Flower greenish, reddish tinged on the outside and red veins on the inside; lip cream to pale yellow with prominent red to purple venation, oblong-ovate, obscurely 3-lobed,18-25 mm long, with 2 fleshy pubescent ridges on the mid-lobe. |
Notes: | The striking olive-green and purple colours make this species easily recognizable when in leaf. |
Derivation of specific name: | ballii: named after John Ball, orchidologist, who collected the type for this species. |
Habitat: | In woodland and grassland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 600 - 1500 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Tuesday 6 October 2015 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 331. (Includes a picture). Champluvier, D. (2002). Contribution to the study of the genus Pseuderanthemum (Acanthaceae) in tropical Africa (in French) Pages 142 - 143. As Nervilia sp. (Williamson & Drummond 1639) (Includes a picture). Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 275 - 277. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 67. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 84. as Nervilia sp. no. 3 (Wild 4174) La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 265 - 266. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 167 - 168. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I.F. & La Croix T.M. (1983). Orchids of Bvumbwe The Society of Malawi Journal 36(2) Page 17. 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 57 - 58. as Nervilia sp. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. |
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