Stenoglottis fimbriata Lindley (1837: 210)

Phillips, Dean P. & Bytebier, Benny, 2020, A taxonomic revision of Stenoglottis (Orchideae, Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae), Phytotaxa 456 (3), pp. 219-243 : 221

1. Stenoglottis fimbriata Lindley (1837: 210) . ( Figs 1–5 )

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Eastern Cape: between Mzimvubu and Msikaba rivers [inter Omsamwubo et Omsamcaba], Drège 4574 (holotype: K, 001208157, photo!; isotype: P, 00339739, photo!) .

Lithophytic, occasionally epiphytic or terrestrial. Leaves 6–20, linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, concolourous to heavily spotted with brown or maroon, margins flat and entire to strongly undulate, up to 20 × 4 cm. Inflorescence up to 57 cm tall, 5–90 flowers; sheaths spotted or unspotted. Bracts lanceolate, acute to acuminate, spotted or unspotted, usually sheathing the ovary entirely, occasionally recurved at the apex, usually shorter than or equal to ovaries except for the lower bracts that are sometimes slightly longer than ovaries, 6.0–15.0 × 2.0– 5.5 mm. Flowers white, pink or lilac, often spotted with a darker shade of pink or purple on all parts or labellum only; self-pollinating. Sepals ovate to narrowly ovate or elliptic, acute to obtuse, dorsal concave, laterals oblique to falcate, 3.5–7.0 × 1.5–4.0 mm, laterals slightly longer. Petals ovate, oblique, acute, 3.5–6.3 × 2.0– 4.5 mm. Labellum unspurred, oblong to obovate in outline, 6.0–12.0 × 2.0– 6.5 mm, highly variable; side lobes entire to incised or bifurcating; midlobe acute, longer than or subequal to side lobes. Column up to 2.5 mm long; stigmatic arms erect or suberect in mature flowers, straight or curving outward; auricles slender or widening slightly at the apex, up to 0.6 mm × 0.4 mm at the apex, adnate to the sides of the anther. Ovary 8.5–15.0 mm long.

Figures

FIGURE 1.Selected specimens ofStenoglottis fimbriata var.fimbriata.A,inflorescence,NgomeForestReserve (KZN).B–C,inflorescence and flower ventral view, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve (KZN). D, flower ventral view, Msikaba (EC). E, flower ventral view, Ingomankulu (KZN). F, flower ventral view, Highflats (KZN). G, flower ventral view, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve (LIM). H, flowers, Mount West (KZN). I–J, flower lateral view (showing spurless labellum and sheathing bract) and flower ventral view, Kaapschehoop (MP). K–L, flower lateral and ventral view, Winston Park (KZN). M, flowers, Signal Hill, Grahamstown (EC). N, habitat, Royal Natal National Park (KZN). O, leaf rosette (in situ), Kei Mouth (EC). P, leaf rosette (in situ), God’s Window (MP). Scale bars = 5 mm. N–P reproduced with the permission of Herbert Stärker.

FIGURE 2. Selected specimens of Stenoglottis fimbriata var. fimbriata. A, column lateral view, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (KZN). B–C, column lateral and ventral view, Msikaba (EC). D, column lateral view, Nkandla Forest Reserve (KZN). E–F, column lateral and ventral view, Kaapschehoop (MP). Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: au = auricle, an = anther, stg = stigmatic arm.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Stenoglottis fimbriata var. fimbriata.

FIGURE 4. Selected specimens of Stenoglottis fimbriata var. modesta. A, inflorescence, Fawn Leas (KZN). B, flowers ventral view, Mnyolo (EC). C, habit (in situ), Vryheid Hill Nature Reserve (KZN). D–E, flowers ventral and lateral view (showing vestigial spur and sheathing bract), Vryheid Hill Nature Reserve (KZN). F–G, column ventral and lateral view, Ixopo (KZN). Scale bars = 5 mm (A–B, D– E), 0.5 mm (F–G).Abbreviations: au = auricle, an = anther, stg = stigmatic arm. C reproduced with the permission of Herbert Stärker.

FIGURE 5. Distribution of Stenoglottis fimbriata var. modesta.