Brachycorythis

Brachycorythis

Seven species of Brachycorythis are found in South Africa within the genus of 36 species. 24 of these species are found in Africa and 12 in Asia. One of the South African endemic species, the Albertina Sisulu Orchid or Brachycorythis conica ssp. transvaalensis is currently listed as critically endangered and consists of one viable population of around 120 individuals and a few scattered plants at other locations.

Brachycorythis is terrestrial and has a leafy shoot that bears the inflorescence at the end. Most species go dormant in the dry period and plants have fleshy elongated finger-like tubers. Flowers are generally pink or green with darker spotting or blotching on the lip reminiscent of the flowers of the European genus Dactylorhiza.

  • Brachycorythis inhambanensis by Martin Rautenbach

Credit

Johnson, S.D., Bytebier, B., Stärker, H. (2010). Orchids of South Africa: A field guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town, South Africa.

Brachycorythis conica subsp. transvaalensis

 

  • Brachycorythis conica ssp. Transvaalensis by Karsten Woodrich

Description

Slender to fairly robust terrestrial, growing up to 400 mm tall. Leaves cauline, numerous, densely overlapping, spear-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped, up to 60 x 20 mm. Inflorescence dense, up to 150 mm long and carrying 30-40 flowers, which are mauve to pink and white, lip mauve with purple spots. Flowers extremely variable from plant to plant. Spur curving, up to 8 mm long. Has recently been given the common name: the Albertina Sisulu Orchid.  

 

Brachycorythis pubescens

 

  • Bracycorythis pubescens by Lourens Grobler

Description

Moderately robust terrestrial which grows up to 600 mm tall. Numerous leaves are cauline and densely overlapping, hairy, spear-shaped and up to 60 x 20 mm. Inflorescence dense and hairy, up to 320 mm long. 45-110 flowers are hairy on the outside, light to deep pink suffused with Brownish green, callus yellow spotted with red. Sepals and petals form a hood over the column. Sepals up to 7 x 4 mm, petals up to 6 x 3 mm. Spur absent. Similar to Brachycorythis ovata ssp. ovata.

 

For more information regarding the preservation of South Africa's wild Orchids or if you would like to get involved please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete this short form Contact Us and we will contact you.

Acampe

Acrolophia

Aerangis

Angraecum

Ansellia

Bartholina

Bolusiella

Bonatea

Brachycorythis

Brownleea

Bulbophyllum

Calanthe

Centrostigma

Ceratandra

Cheirostylis

Corycium

Corymborkis

Cyrtorchis

Diaphananthe

Didymoplexis

Disa

Disperis

Dracomonticola

Eulophia

Evotella

Habenaria

Holothrix

Huttonaea

Jumellea

Liparis

Margelliantha

Microcoelia

Mystacidium

Neobolusia

Nervilia

Oberonia

Oeceoclades

Orthochilus

Pachites

Platycoryne

Platylepis

Polystachya

Pterygodium

Rangaeris

Rhipidoglossum

Satyrium

Schizochilus

Stenoglottis

Tridactyle

Vanilla

Ypsilopus

Zeuxine