Polystachya transvaalensis Schltr.

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Polystachya transvaalensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Polystachya transvaalensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Polystachya transvaalensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Forested higher slopes of Castle beacon, Vumba

Polystachya transvaalensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Forested higher slopes of Castle beacon, Vumba

Polystachya transvaalensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Forested higher slopes of Castle beacon, Vumba

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Polystachya natalensis Rolfe
Polystachya nigrescens Rendle
Polystachya rendlei Rolfe
Common names:
Frequency: Frequent
Status: Native
Description:
Low-level epiphyte or occasional lithophyte. Stems normally covered in blackened remains of old leaf sheaths, are not thickened into distinct pseudobulbs. Leaves 2-5, sheathing at the base, apex rounded. Inflorescence erect, up to 12-flowered; lateral sepals green, tinged with purple-brown; petals and lip creamy white.
Notes: FZ 11(2) records this species from the Chinhamhora Reserve in division N. However, the Chinhamhora Reserve lies entirely in division C. Pending further information, we have therefore left the record as C rather than N.
Derivation of specific name: transvaalensis: of the Transvaal, South Africa
Habitat: In mist-belt evergreen forest.
Altitude range: (metres) 1400 - 2400 m
Flowering time:Nov - Jan
Worldwide distribution: DRC, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution: 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: Sunday 13 November 2011
Literature:

Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 164 - 165. (Includes a picture).

Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 232 - 233. (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. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45.

Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 357.

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 27.

Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 85.

Harris, T., Darbyshire, I. & Polhill, R. (2011). New species and range extensions from Mt Namuli, Mt Mabu and Mt Chiperone in northern Mozambique Kew Bulletin 66(2) Page 250.

Kimberley, M.J. (2003). A List of Epiphytic Orchids of Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Page 52.

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Page 330.

La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 104 - 105. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 211. (Includes a picture).

Linder, H.P. & Kurzweil, H. (1999). Orchids of Southern Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 90-5410-445-7 Pages 410 - 411. (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.

McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008). Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa Pages 402 - 403. (Includes a picture).

Morris, B. (1967). The epiphytic orchids of Soche Mountain. Historic and Scientific Society of Malawi Journal 20(2) Page 30.

Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 57.

Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 157 - 160. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124.

Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 520 - 521. (Includes a picture).

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 391.

Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 74. (Includes a picture).

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 140.

Summerhayes, V.S. (1956). African orchids XXIII Kew Bulletin 11(2) Pages 227 - 228.

Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 71.

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 117 - 118. (Includes a picture).

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 84.


Other sources of information about Polystachya transvaalensis:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Polystachya transvaalensis
Flora of Malawi: Polystachya transvaalensis
Flora of Mozambique: Polystachya transvaalensis
Flora of Zambia: Polystachya transvaalensis

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Polystachya transvaalensis.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=118470, retrieved 19 March 2024

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