Polystachya songaniensis G. Will.

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Photo: David Gwynne-Evans
Near summit Mt Mabu

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Synonyms:	Epiphorella songaniensis (G.Will.) Mytnik & Szlach.
Common names:
Frequency:	Very local in Mozambique
Status:	Native
Description:	Epiphyte or lithophyte, often forming small, dense mats, flowering when leafless. Pseudobulbs squat, onion-shaped, 10-15 mm long, shiny green or purplish, 2-3-leaved. Leaves narrowly linear, grass-like, up to 15 cm long. Inflorescence more or less densely many-flowered, usually up to 15 cm long but rarely up to 35 cm. Flowers pale to deep pink, sometimes white. Lip white, large with a conspicuous bright yellow callus and a frilled edge. Lateral sepals forming a narrow, cylindric, spur-like mentum.
Notes:	This species was long thought to be endemic to the Zomba and Mulanje Mts of Malawi and has only recently been recorded from Mt Mabu in Mozambique. It may be well be more widespread as it it nearly impossible to see when not in flower. The shape of flower and lip are quite unique and its closest relations are found in West and Central Africa.
Derivation of specific name:	songaniensis: from the Songani Lookout point on Zomba Plateau in Malawi, where the type specimen was found.
Habitat:	Growing on old Xerophyta stumps, in clumps of sedges or on exposed seepage rock, apparently never seen on living plants.
Altitude range:	1600 - 1650 m
Flowering time:	Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Southern Malawi and Mozambique.
Mozambique distribution:	Z
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:	Near Endemic
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 26 July 2012
Literature:	Darbyshire, I., Timberlake, J., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., Matimele, H., Langa. C., Datizua, C., de Sousa, C., Alves, T., Massingue, A., Hadj-Hammou, J., Dhanda, S., Shah, T., Wursten, B. (2019). The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status Phytotaxa 136 Page 78. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 332 - 333. as Polystachya songaniensis (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 110 - 111. as Polystachya songaniensis (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 220. as Polystachya songaniensis Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 351 - 353. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2002). Endemics of Mt. Mulanje. The endemic spermatophytes of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi Systematics and Geography of Plants 72 Page 20. as Polystachya songaniensis Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 140. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 71.

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Polystachya songaniensis
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Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Polystachya songaniensis
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Wikipedia: Polystachya songaniensis