e-Key v3 - Centrostigma
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Orchidaceae - Orchidoideae - Orchideae - Centrostigma Schltr.

Description :

  • Terrestrial herbs, with ovoid-globose root tubers
  • Leaves cauline and sheathing
  • Inflorescence a lax raceme; flowers white, cream-coloured or green
  • Sepals free; laterals spreading and lanceolate; median one galeate
  • Petals simple, ± as long as sepals, lying next to median sepal
  • Lip deeply 3-lobed, with fringed side lobes; long-spurred
  • Gynostemium : anther thecae parallel and adjacent, erect, anther canals slender, strongly curved upwards and adnate to lateral rostellum arms; pollinia 2, sectile, with long caudicles and small viscidia; stigmatic processes 2-lobed, each with upper sterile horn and capitate or clavate receptive lobe; rostellum 3-lobed, lateral rostellum lobes elongate horns curved upwards, midlobe erect and shorter than anther
  • Capsule elongate-cylindrical

Nomenclature:

  • Centrostigma Schltr.
    • Schlechter: 522 (1915)
    • Phillips: 232 (1951)
    • Stewart et al.: 102 (1982)
    • Linder & Kurzweil: 143 (1999)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 3, south tropical Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Centrostigma occultans (Welw. ex Rchb.f.) Schltr., extends into Northern Province and Mpumalanga

References:

  • LINDER, H.P. & KURZWEIL, H. 1999. Orchids of southern Africa . A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
  • PHILLIPS, E.P. 1951. The genera of South African flowering plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 25
  • SCHLECHTER, R. 1915. Orchidaceae Stolzianae , ein Beitrag zur Orchideenkunde des Nyassa-Landes. Botanische Jahrbücher 53
  • STEWART, J., LINDER, H.P., SCHELPE, E.A. & HALL, A.V. 1982. Wild orchids of southern Africa . Macmillan, Johannesburg