Cynorkis mammuthus Hermans & P.J.Cribb

in J. Hermans, J.L. Andriantiana, A. Sieder et al., Kew Bull 72 : 38 (2017).

Répartition

Madagascar.

Floraison : _FM_________.

Description sommaire

Plante terrestre. Taille de 0 à 75 cm. Fleurs de 0 à 11. Eperon de 105 à 270 mm. Sépale dorsal en coiffe, elliptique, oblong, de 32-34 × 14-16 mm. Sépales latéraux elliptiques, oblongs, de 29-30 × 12-13 mm. Pétales lancéolés, linéaires, de 31-33 × 2-3 mm. Labelle entier, oblancéolé, de 36-38 × 12-14 mm.

Commentaires

The new species is distinct by the raceme of very large flowers for the genus, up to 11 on the raceme, densely hirsute pedicellate ovary and base of flower, the entire lip with a very long pendent spur, lateral sepals with an auricle towardsthe apical margin and the very long tusk-like rostellum arms. It could be perceived as a peloric form of Cynorkis christae but the longer rostellumarms, lobed lateral sepals and 8- to 11-flowered inflorescence (vs 3 – 4 in C. christae) make it unlikely. It shares its large flower size with C. gigas Schltr.(Schlechter 1924: 50) but has an 8 – 12-flowered inflorescence, an entire vs a distinctly lobed lip, clearly lobed lateral sepals and a longer spur (c. 10 cm in C. gigas vs 13 cm in the new species). The large flower and long spur are reminiscent of C. christae Hermans, Andriant. & Sieder described above, which comes from the same area in Madagascar, but differs in its lip and lateral sepals. In flower morphology the new species is closest to C. elephantina Hermans, Andriant. & Sieder described above, with which it shares the entire lip,the densely hirsute pedicellate ovary, lobed lateral sepals and long rostellum but its sepals and petals are about twice as large, its lip and spur almost a thirdlarger, its floral bracts broad and funnel-shaped (vs shortly amplexicaul in C. elephantina), its hood, formed by the dorsal sepal and petals, is not recurved, its rostellar arms are longer and its spur is up to 13 cm long (vs 7.8 cm).

Bibliographie

The Orchid Review. Tome 127. Royal Horticultural Society. Page 163. Photo.