Polystachya vaginata Summerh.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (2)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Golf Course, 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:	Isochilostachya vaginata (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Epiphyte or occasional lithophyte. Flowers are borne all along the long stems; plants are usually without leaves at the time of flowering, especially when growing in exposed situations. The sepals are pubescent on the outside.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	vaginata, vaginate, sheathed, possessing a sheath.
Habitat:	A species of sub-montane forest and high rainfall Brachystegia woodland. Often growing on the main trunk of large trees.
Altitude range: (metres)	1300 - 1700 m
Flowering time:	Aug - Oct
Worldwide distribution:	Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte, lithophyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 174 - 175. (Includes a picture). Cribb, P.J. (1978). Studies in the genus Polystachya (Orchidaceae) in Africa Kew Bulletin 32(4) Page 759. Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 377. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 85. Kimberley, M.J. (2003). A List of Epiphytic Orchids of Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Page 50. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 344 - 345. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 115 - 116. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 222. (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. Morris, B. (1967). The epiphytic orchids of Soche Mountain. Historic and Scientific Society of Malawi Journal 20(2) Page 33. Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Pages 72 - 73. Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 75 - 76. as Isochilostachya vaginata (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Pages 74 - 75. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 123 - 124. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Polystachya vaginata:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Polystachya vaginata
Flora of Zambia: Polystachya vaginata

External websites:

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