Polystachya fusiformis (Thouars) Lindl.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (3)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Globe Rock, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
In cultivation, Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Dendrobium fusiforme Thouars. Polystachya composita Kraenzl. Polystachya minutiflora Ridl.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Epiphytic herb producing a pendent chain of long, slender pseudobulbs, which can reach a length of up to 1 m. Inflorescence terminal, distinctly branched, up to 50 flowered. Flowers small, greenish to yellow-green, more or less tinged purple, sometimes entirely purple.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	fusiformis: spindle-shaped; swollen in the middle and tapering on both ends; referring to the shape of the pseudobulbs
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Jan - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa, Madagascar and Mascarene Islands
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 148 - 149. (Includes a picture). 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. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45. Cribb, P.J. (1978). Studies in the genus Polystachya (Orchidaceae) in Africa Kew Bulletin 32(4) Page 751. Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 371 - 372. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 27. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 85. Kimberley, M.J. (2003). A List of Epiphytic Orchids of Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Page 50. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Page 347. La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 122 - 123. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 215 - 216. (Includes a picture). Linder, H.P. & Kurzweil, H. (1999). Orchids of Southern Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 90-5410-445-7 Pages 411 - 412. (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 97. McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008). Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa Pages 396 - 397. (Includes a picture). Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Pages 68 - 70. (Includes a picture). Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 224 - 227. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 391. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 67. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 139. 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. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 125. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 84.

Other sources of information about Polystachya fusiformis:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Polystachya fusiformis
Flora of Mozambique: Polystachya fusiformis
Flora of Zambia: Polystachya fusiformis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Polystachya fusiformis

External websites:

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