Malaxis Swart

Ariyarathne, W. A. M. P., Yakandawala, Deepthi, Samuel, Rosabelle & Wijesundara, Siril, 2017, Evaluating the occurrence and conservation statuses of Sri Lankan Orchids (Orchidaceae): Observations on newly recorded species and undocumented regions, Phytotaxa 308 (1), pp. 37-53 : 49

Malaxis Swart

This genus consists of 4 species including one endemic distributed in Sri Lanka. During the study period, three species were observed including an endemic species; M. discolor [Syn: Microstylis discolor Lindl. , Seidenfia discolor (Lindl.)Szlach. ] Fernando & Ormerod (2008) stated that this species is found in lowland wet zone, but the observations were made in Horton Plains. The details of herbarium specimens also suggest that this species has a wide range of distribution from lowland through sub montane to montane region. Malaxis thwaitesii [Syn: Microstylis lancifolia Thwaites , Malaxis lancifolia (Thw.) Kuntze , Seidenfia lancifolia (Thwaites) Szlach. ] is a water associated orchid which was observed from Kithulgala and it is attached to the rocks in one of the streams in the forest. Malaxis versicolor [Syn: Microstylis versicolor Lindl. , Seidenfia versicolor (Lindl.) Marg. & Szlach. , Microstylis rheedii (Sw.) Lindl. ] was observed with flowers in April. However, Jayaweera (1981) recorded the flowering season of this species as May to July. The first two species are VU and the later one is a LC species ( MOE, 2012).