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 Andrew Hankey
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
- Brachycorythis pubescens by Daniel Koen
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.
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