Nervilia shirensis (Rolfe) Schltr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Road to Nyamuakwarara River, John Meikle Research Station

Photo: Bart Wursten
Hawkshead Drive Extension, Harare

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Synonyms:	Nervilia buchananii (Rolfe) Schltr. Pogonia buchananii Rolfe Pogonia shirensis Rolfe
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Description:	Erect terrestrial herb up to 45 cm tall. Leaf solitary, erect, appearing after the flowers are finished, ovate to almost round, up to 16 × 11 cm, truncate or slightly cordate at the base, obtuse to acute at the apex, green on both surfaces, pleated with 6-10 veins; petiole 5.5-17 cm long. Inflorescence (1)2-3-flowered. Petals and sepals similar, greenish-yellow with reddish veins and tinge, linear lanceolate, 25-45 mm long; petals slightly shorter than sepals. Lip 20-40 mm long, cream to pale yellow, with prominent purple-red veins, 3-lobed; mid-lobe vate, reflexed, with 2 parallel fleshy ridges; side lobes oblong, erect, enclosing the column.
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Derivation of specific name:	shirensis: of the Shire Highlands in Malawi, where the type specimen was collected.
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Worldwide distribution:	Angola, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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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 331. Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 279. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 68. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 84. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 266 - 268. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 170 - 171. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I.F. & La Croix T.M. (1983). Orchids of Bvumbwe The Society of Malawi Journal 36(2) Page 17. 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 97. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 138. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 143.

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Flora of Malawi: Nervilia shirensis
Flora of Mozambique: Nervilia shirensis
Flora of Zambia: Nervilia shirensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Nervilia shirensis

External websites:

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