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

Orchidaceae - Orchidoideae - Orchideae - Holothrix Rich. ex Lindl.

Description :

  • Terrestrial or sometimes lithophytic herbs, with root tubers
  • Leaves 2 (rarely 1), flat on ground, glabrous or hairy, sometimes withering before flowering, broadly ovate to orbicular-reniform
  • Inflorescence a usually secund, hairy raceme; flowers white, yellowish or green; normally resupinate; in H. burchellii (Lindl.) Rchb.f. flowers dimorphic
  • Sepals subequal, connivent
  • Petals longer than sepals, entire or variously lobed
  • Lip spurred, divided into 3-many lobes
  • Gynostemium short; anther thecae parallel and adjacent, anther canals absent; pollinia 2, sectile, with very short caudicles
  • Capsule ovoid or oblong

Nomenclature:

  • Holothrix Rich. ex Lindl.
    • Lindley: 283 (1835) name conserved
    • Rolfe: 96 (1912)
    • Phillips: 230 (1951)
    • Schelpe: 66 (1966)
    • Stewart et al.: 58 (1982)
    • Linder & Kurzweil: 96 (1999)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 55, Arabian Peninsula, Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 23, widespread, often under arid conditions

References:

  • LINDER, H.P. & KURZWEIL, H. 1999. Orchids of southern Africa . A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam
  • LINDLEY, J. 1830-1840. The genera and species of Orchidaceous plants . Ridgways, London
  • PHILLIPS, E.P. 1951. The genera of South African flowering plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 25
  • ROLFE, R.A. 1912. Order CXXXI. Orchideae . Flora capensis 5,3
  • SCHELPE, E.A. 1966. An introduction to the South African Orchids . Purnell & Sons, Cape Town, Johannesburg
  • STEWART, J., LINDER, H.P., SCHELPE, E.A. & HALL, A.V. 1982. Wild orchids of southern Africa . Macmillan, Johannesburg