Brachycorythis pleistophylla Rchb. f.
subsp. pleistophylla

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Brachycorythis pleistophylla subsp. pleistophylla

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Chikukwa, lower Chimanimani Mts

Photo: Bart Wursten
Western slope Mt Shangani, eastern Chimanimani Mts.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along path to Mt Binga above Nhamadzi River crossing, Chimanimani National Reserve

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Synonyms:	Brachycorythis briartiana Kraenzl. Brachycorythis macclouniei Braid Brachycorythis perrieri Schltr. Brachycorythis pulchra Schltr. Platanthera pleistophylla (Rchb. f.) Schltr.
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb, 60 to 100 cm. Stems leafy with leaves often overlapping, lanceolate, tapering to a long, fine point. Inflorescence fairly densely many-flowered, up to 30 cm long, bracts long and leaf-like. Flowers mauve to purple, yellow in the throat; lip pointing forwards, epichile folded lengthwise.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	pleistophylla: with many leaves
Habitat:	In grassland and at the edges of woodland, particularly on granite.
Altitude range:	1100 - 2200 m
Flowering time:	Nov - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread from Nigeria to Ethiopia and southwards to South Africa
Mozambique distribution:	Z,MS
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 21 January 2020
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (2009). Terrestrial African Orchids, A Selected Review. Pages 18 - 19. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 216 - 217. (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 317. (Includes a picture). 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. Goodier, R. & Phipps, J.B. (1961). A revised checklist of the vascular plants of the Chimanimani Mountains Kirkia 1 Page 53. as Brachycorythis pleistophylla Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 78. Johnson, S., Bytebier, B, & Stärker H. (2015). Orchids of South Africa, a Field Guide Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 72. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 21 - 22. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 31 - 32. (Includes a picture). Linder, H.P. & Kurzweil, H. (1999). Orchids of Southern Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 90-5410-445-7 Page 85. (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 94. 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 48 - 49. (Includes a picture). Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Page 53. As Brachycorythis pleistophylla (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 117. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 389. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 97. as Brachycorythis pleistophylla (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 131. Summerhayes, V.S. (1955). A revision of the genus Brachycorythis Kew Bulletin 10 Pages 253 - 254. Summerhayes, V.S. (1968). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 22. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 32 - 33. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 83.

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Flora of Malawi: Brachycorythis pleistophylla subsp. pleistophylla
Flora of Zambia: Brachycorythis pleistophylla subsp. pleistophylla
Flora of Zimbabwe: Brachycorythis pleistophylla subsp. pleistophylla

External websites:

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