Polystachya modesta Rchb. f.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

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Synonyms:	Polystachya kindtiana De Wild. Polystachya shirensis Rchb. f.
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Description:	Epiphytic, rarely lithophytic herb. Pseudobulbs conical, clustered. Leaves 3-4, elliptic or lanceolate, dark green, often edged with purple. Inflorescence unbranched, up to 18 cm tall. Flowers pale yellow, rarely purple or red. Lip without a raised callus.
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Flowering time:	Jan - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa.
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 194 - 195. (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 333. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45. Cribb, P.J. (1984). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 363. 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) Pages 339 - 340. La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 118 - 119. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 211 - 212. (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. Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Page 60. Mytnik-Ejsmont, J. (2011). A Monograph of the Subtribe Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) University of Gdansk, Poland, ISBN 978 83 7531 174 4 Pages 191 - 194. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 124. 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 69. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 120 - 121. (Includes a picture).

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

External websites:

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