Source:
SSA
Description:
Terrestrial herbs, with oblong tuberous roots. Leaves cauline, sometimes withered at flowering time. Inflorescence an elongated raceme, few- to many-flowered; flowers green or yellow and white; bracts ovate. Sepals unequal; median one erect, usually forming hood with upper petal lobe; laterals oblique and reflexed, united for some distance with base of lip, anterior petal lobes and stigmatic arms. Petals deeply 2-lobed, upper lobe usually adnate to median sepal, lower (anterior) lobe fused at base with stigmatic arms and lip. Lip spurred, 3-lobed, basally united with lateral sepals, petals and stigmatic arms; base usually with a distinct tooth in front of spur mouth. Gynostemium: anther thecae erect, parallel, adjacent, anther canals elongate and adnate to lateral rostellum arms; pollinia 2, sectile, with elongated caudicles and small separate viscidia; stigmatic areas 2, on elongate processes which are basally connate with lip; rostellum 3-lobed, midlobe usually hooded, lateral lobes long slender arms. Capsule oblong.
Distribution:
Species 20, Arabian Peninsula, E Africa to Western Cape; 10 in sthn Afr., fairly widespread, mainly in Northern Province, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
Classification:
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