Satyrium volkensii Schltr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nr summit of Rukotso

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Synonyms:	Satyrium brachypetalum sensu. Kraenzlin p.p., non A. Rich. Satyrium dizygoceras Summerh. Satyrium leptopetalum Kraenzl. Satyrium trachypetalum Kraenzl.
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Description:	Terrestrial herb 45–85 cm tall, growing from an ellipsoid, woolly tuber, up to 5 cm long. Leaves 3-4 on a separate sterile shoot; lowermost 1–2 sheathing; upper ones lanceolate or elliptic, up to 18 cm long. Flowering stem with 7–13 sheathing leaves up to 10 cm long. Inflorescence narrowly cylindrical, 10–40 cm long, fairly densely many-flowered. Flowers green or yellow-green, sometimes tinged with brown; scented; bracts up to 35 mm long at base of inflorescence, reflexed. Sepals and petals curled under. Median sepal oblanceolate, 3.5–5 mm long, rounded at apex; lateral sepals slightly longer and about twice as wide, oblique. Petals similar to median sepal. Lip ellipsoid, 4.5–5.5 mm long, hooded, reflexed at the apex, fleshy with a narrow mouth. Spurs 14–22 mm long, slender, pendent, sometimes with 2 extra rudimentary spurs less than 1 mm long below them.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	volkensii: after G. Volkens who collected on Mt Kilimanjaro 1892, 1893 and 1894
Habitat:
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Flowering time:	Dec - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 335. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 70. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 86. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 216. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 146. (Includes a picture). 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 98. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 159. Summerhayes, V.S. (1953). African Orchids: XXII Kew Bulletin 8(4) Pages 577 - 578. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 95 - 96. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Malawi: Satyrium volkensii
Flora of Mozambique: Satyrium volkensii
Flora of Zambia: Satyrium volkensii
Flora of Zimbabwe: Satyrium volkensii

External websites:

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