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

Orchidaceae - Epidendroideae - Gastrodieae - Gastrodia R.Br.

Description :

  • Saprophytic terrestrial herbs, growing from thick, tuberous rhizomes
  • Stems erect
  • Leaves 0
  • Inflorescence : terminal racemes; flowers brownish, bell-shaped, pendent
  • Sepals and petals united into tube
  • Lip 3-lobed, mobile, attached to column-foot
  • Gynostemium long; pollinia 2, sectile
  • Capsule erect, up to 17 x 7 mm
  • x = 12 (aneuploids, polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Gastrodia R.Br.
    • Brown: 330 (1810)
    • Stewart et al.: 210 (1982)
    • Linder & Kurzweil: 352 (1999)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 17, throughout the tropics and subtropics of the Old World
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Gastrodia sesamoides R.Br., near Cape Town (Western Cape); probably accidentally introduced

References:

  • BROWN, R. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae . J. Johnson & Co., London
  • LINDER, H.P. & KURZWEIL, H. 1999. Orchids of southern Africa . A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
  • STEWART, J., LINDER, H.P., SCHELPE, E.A. & HALL, A.V. 1982. Wild orchids of southern Africa . Macmillan, Johannesburg