Epiphytic monopodial herbs, small, with or rarely without leaves, without pseudobulbs
Leaves distichous, articulated to persistent sheath
Inflorescences axillary, 2-several-flowered; flowers small to medium-sized, white, green or yellowish white
Sepals and petals subequal, free, spreading or subconnivent
Lip entire or 3-lobed, spurred
Gynostemium short and broad; anther operculate; pollinia 2, globose, each attached to separate slender stipe and viscidium, viscidia rarely adherent; rostellum pendent, 3-lobed
Capsule oblong or fusiform
x = 12 (1 report)
Nomenclature:
Mystacidium Lindl.
Lindley in Hooker: 205 (1836)
Rolfe: 75 (1912)
Phillips: 243 (1951)
Schelpe: 40 (1966)
Harrison: 53 (1972)
Stewart et al.: 267 (1982)
Linder & Kurzweil: 439 (1999)
Distribution & Notes:
Global: Species ± 9, mainly southern and south-central Africa
Southern Africa: Species 7, south to near Knysna (Western Cape)
References:
HARRISON, E.R. 1972. Epiphytic orchids of southern Africa. Natal Branch of the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa
HOOKER, W.J. 1836. Companion to the Botanical Magazine 2
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
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
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