FZ.34. Polystachya Hook.

DENDROBIANTHE Mytnik & Szlach.

EPIPHORELLA Mytnik & Szlach.

ISOCHILOSTACHYA (Schltr.) Mytnik

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

Description of the genus

Epiphytic, occasionally lithophytic or terrestrial, herbs with sympodial growth. Pseudobulbs usually present. Leaves linear to elliptic or oblanceolate, of various textures. Inflorescence a raceme or panicle, arising from the apex of the pseudobulb. Flowers usually not resupinate, usually scented. Lateral sepals fused to the column-foot to form a mentum. Lip usually 3-lobed, less often entire, glabrous or pubescent, often recurved, fleshy. Pollinia 2.

Worldwide: 150 species in tropical and warm areas

DRC: 59 taxa.

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Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesBotanical divisionsContent
aconitiflora Summerh.
adansoniae Rchb. f.Description, Image
affinis Lindl.
albescens Ridl. [Agg]
albescens Ridl. subsp. imbricata (Rolfe) Summerh.Description, Image
armeniaca la Croix & P.J.Cribb
bennettiana Rchb.f.
bicarinata Rendle
bifida Lindl.
brassii Summerh.
brugeana Geerinck
caloglossa Rchb.f.
concreta (Jacq.) Garay & H.R. SweetDescription, Image
cribbiana Geerinck [NrEnd]
cultriformis (Thouars) Spreng.Description, Image
dendrobiiflora Rchb. f.Description, Image
dewanckeliana Geerinck [NrEnd]
doggettii Rendle & Rolfe
epiphytica De Wild.Description, Image
fallax Kraenzl.
fractiflexa Summerh.
fusiformis (Thouars) Lindl.Description, Image
galeata (Sw.) Rchb.f.III,VI,VII,IX,XIDescription
gracilenta Kraenzl.
greatrexii Summerh.Description, Image
hastata Summerh. [NrEnd]IXDescription
kermesina Kraenzl. [NrEnd]IXDescription, Image
laurentii De Wild.
laxiflora Lindl.
lindblomii Schltr.Description
macropoda Summerh. [NrEnd]
malilaensis Schltr.Description
mildbraedii Kraenzl. var. mildbraedii
mildbraedii Kraenzl. [Agg]
mildbraedii Kraenzl. var. angustifolia (Summerh.) Geerinck
modesta Rchb. f.Description, Image
odorata Lindl.
pachychila Summerh.
pamelae Eb.Fisch., Killmann & Nsanz. [NrEnd]IXImage
paniculata (Sw.) Rolfe
parva Summerh.
poikilantha Kraenzl.
retusiloba Summerh.
rhodoptera Rchb.f.
saccata (Finet) Rolfe
simplex RendleDescription, Image
stauroglossa Kraenzl.
steudneri Rchb.f.
tenella Summerh.
tenuissima Kraenzl.
transvaalensis Schltr.Description, Image
tridentata Summerh. [NrEnd]IX
troupiniana Geerinck
undulata P.J.Cribb & Podz. [NrEnd]IX
villosa Rolfe
virginea Summerh. [NrEnd]IX
vulcanica Kraenzl. [NrEnd]IX
woosnamii Rendle [NrEnd]IX
zambesiaca RolfeDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Polystachya:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Polystachya
Flora of Malawi: Polystachya
Flora of Mozambique: Polystachya
Flora of Rwanda: Polystachya
Flora of Zambia: Polystachya
Flora of Zimbabwe: Polystachya

External websites:

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

Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-26

The DRC flora team (2026). Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Genus page: Polystachya.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=434, retrieved 14 February 2026

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