| Synonyms: |
Brachycorythis hispidula sensu Eyles in Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr.: 334 (1916) |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
Terrestrial herb 25–70 cm tall. Leaves numerous, overlapping, lanceolate or ovate, up to 5 cm long in the middle of the stem, densely pubescent. Inflorescence 8–13 cm long, densely many-flowered; bracts leaf-like, up to 25 mm long, densely pubescent. Flowers cream-coloured or greenish-brown, lip yellow. Dorsal sepal elliptic 5–6.5 mm long, pubescent outside; lateral sepals obliquely ovate. Petals oblong, 4.5–5 mm long, hairless. Lip with a basal part 2–2.5 mm long and deep, cup-shaped; apical part projecting forwards horizontally, obovate, 4.5–6 mm long, 3-lobed towards the apex, the mid-lobe longer than the side lobes. |
| Type location: |
Tanzania |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | velutina: velvety |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
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| Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe. |
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| Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 54. Geerinck, D. (1984). Orchidaceae (premiere partie) Flore d'Afrique Centrale (Zaire - Rwanda - Burundi) Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Bruxelles Pages 45 - 46. (Includes a picture). Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 78. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 25. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 33. 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 94. Summerhayes, V.S. (1955). A revision of the genus Brachycorythis Kew Bulletin 10 Page 263. |