Brachycorythis congoensis Kraenzl.

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Very large open dambo border the town of Mufumbwe

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Medium-sized seepage dambo c. 60 km SW of Solwezi

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Synonyms:	Brachycorythis hirschbergii Braid
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Description:	Robust terrestrial herb up to 70 cm tall with cylindrical tuberous roots. Leaves numerous, lanceolate, up to 7.5 × 3 cm, decreasing in size and narrower up the stem. Inflorescence up to 23 cm long and 5 cm wide, densely many-flowered; bracts leaf-like, up to 34 mm long. Flowers purple-pink, spotted, inner parts often whitish. Sepals elliptic or oblong; dorsal sepal 5–7 mm long; lateral sepals 5.5–7.5 mm long, oblique. Petals narrowly oblong, 4–7.5 mm long. Lip obovate or oblong, 8–12 mm long, 3-lobed in apical third, mid-lobe larger than the side lobes. Spur ar the base of the lip conical 2–3.5 mm long.
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Derivation of specific name:	congoensis: of Congo.
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Worldwide distribution:	DRC, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 54. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 78. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 18. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 30. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 94. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 117. Summerhayes, V.S. (1955). A revision of the genus Brachycorythis Kew Bulletin 10 Page 250. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 30 - 31. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Malawi: Brachycorythis congoensis
Flora of Zambia: Brachycorythis congoensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Brachycorythis congoensis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Brachycorythis congoensis
African Plant Database: Brachycorythis congoensis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Brachycorythis congoensis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Brachycorythis congoensis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Brachycorythis congoensis
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iNaturalist: Brachycorythis congoensis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Brachycorythis congoensis
JSTOR Plant Science: Brachycorythis congoensis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Brachycorythis congoensis
Plants of the World Online: Brachycorythis congoensis
Tropicos: Brachycorythis congoensis
Wikipedia: Brachycorythis congoensis