Bonatea antennifera
- Bonatea antennifera by Duncan McFarlane
Description
Robust terrestrial up to 1.2 m tall. Leaves 6-21, cauline, oblong to broadly spear-shaped, up to 190 mm long. Inflorescence lax to dense, 4-44 flowers, green and white, median sepal erect, up to 23 mm long, lateral sepals deflexed, up to 26 mm long, petals divided, upper lobe linear, up to 24 mm long, lower lobe narrowly linear throughout, projecting forward and ascending, up to 43 mm long, lip 3-lobed from a short and narrow base, mid-lobe narrowly linear, sharply bent near the middle, up to 34mm long, side-lobes narrowly linear with apex recurved, up to 45 mm long, spur somewhat swollen towards apex, up to 44 mm long. Similar to Bonatea boltonii, but distinguished by the forward projecting, lower petal lobes and the stigmatic arms which are club-shaped. Also similar to Bonatea speciosa, but distinguished by the shorter (less than 15 mm) club-shaped apex of the spur and lower petal lobe less than 2 mm wide.
Syn: Bonatea speciosa var. antennifera.
Distribution in South Africa
Found in the Northern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces.
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Typical habitat
Usually found as an individual plant, growing in leaf litter and always growing in the shade of trees. It seems to grow above 800 m in inland savanna conditions in predominantly summer rainfall areas.
Flowering Period
This species typically flowers between March and May.
Distribution elsewhere in Africa
Also found in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Conservation Status
Remains fairly abundant in Gauteng, but rapid urbanisation is reducing it's habitat.
All orchids are protected under CITES regulations.
References and additional information
McMurtry, D., Grobler, L, Grobler, J., Burns, S 2008. Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa
and Swaziland. Umdaus Press. Hatfield, South Africa.
This genus and species article was written by Duncan Mc Farlane and published 2019-04-05.
Images
- Bonatea antennifera by Duncan McFarlane
- Bonatea antennifera by Duncan McFarlane
Version 1.2
Read carefully the notes