Cyrtorchis crassifolia Schltr.

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Cyrtorchis crassifolia

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Growing low down on the tree trunk near the carpark of the Lazy-J Ranch wilderness area

Cyrtorchis crassifolia

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Growing low down on the tree trunk near the carpark of the Lazy-J Ranch wilderness area

Cyrtorchis crassifolia

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Growing low down on the tree trunk near the carpark of the Lazy-J Ranch wilderness area

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

Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Small epiphytic herb with a short stem, mostly less than c. 4 cm long; roots stout, 5–6 mm in diameter. Leaves up to c. 6, distichous, 2–6 cm long, recurved, V-shaped in cross-section, succulent, grey-green. Inflorescences 1–2, arising from the axils of lower leaves, to c. 4 cm long, arching, densely 3–8-flowered. Flowers not opening wide, creamy-white, turning apricot-coloured as they fade, scented in the evening. Sepals and petals lanceolate, up to 14 mm long, recurved at the tips, sepals longer than petals. Lip lanceolate, 6.5–11 mm long, recurved, channelled towards the base; spur 1.8–3 cm long, tapering from a base, incurved.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: crassifolia: thick-leaved
Habitat: In Brachystegia woodland and mixed deciduous woodlands in high-rainfall areas, epiphytic, rarely lithophytic, usually embedded in lichen.
Altitude range: (metres) 1200 - 2050 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and northern Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution: N
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 100 - 101. (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 318. (Includes a picture).

Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 79.

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 414 - 416. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Page 65. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 266. (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 95.

Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 107.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 118.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 134.

Summerhayes, V.S. (1960). African orchids XXVII Kew Bulletin 14(1) Page 156.

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 198 - 199. (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Cyrtorchis crassifolia:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Cyrtorchis crassifolia
Flora of Malawi: Cyrtorchis crassifolia
Flora of Zambia: Cyrtorchis crassifolia

External websites:

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


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: Cyrtorchis crassifolia.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=118770, retrieved 19 March 2024

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