Orchidaceae
Tridactyle

Tridactyle tridactylites (Rolfe) Schltr.

First published in Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 148 (1918)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is an epiphytic subshrub and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
An epiphyte with a straggling pendent habit.
Morphology Stem
Stems 40–160 cm. or more long, 4–5 mm. in diameter; roots smooth, 3 mm. in diameter.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves linear, unequally subacutely bilobed at the apex, 6–21 cm. long, 0.6–1.2 cm. wide, twisted at the base and articulated to leaf-sheaths up to 2.5 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 3–6 cm. long, up to 11-flowered; bracts reflexed, ovate, 1–2 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers yellow-green; pedicel and ovary 3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal elliptic-ovate, acute, 3.5–5.3 mm. long, 1.5–2.6 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, acute, 3.7–5.6 mm. long, 1.7–2.7 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals lanceolate, acuminate, 3.6–4.5 mm. long, 0.7–1.3 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip auriculate at the base, 3-lobed in the apical part, 4–5 mm. long, 5–6.5 mm. wide; side lobes spreading, filiform, longer than the mid-lobe, 2.3–3 mm. long; mid-lobe triangular, 1.9–2.8 mm. long, 1.1–1.2 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur incurved, filiform, 6–8.5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 1.4–1.9 mm. long; stipes oblanceolate.
Habitat
In rain-forest; 1000–1800 m.
Distribution
Sierra Leone to Zaire, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe T6 U2 U3 U4
[FTEA]

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998

Morphology General Habit
Epiphytic herbs, often lithophytic.
Morphology Stem
Stems rather straggling, 40–150 cm long, 4–5 mm in diameter, woody, covered with old leaf bases.
Morphology Roots
Roots arising along the lower part of the stem, 4–5 mm in diameter, smooth.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves borne towards stem apex, 13–18 × 1–1.8 cm, linear, unequally 2-lobed at apex, rather light glossy green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences arising mainly on lower part of the stem, 3–8 cm long, 6–15-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peduncle very short, c. 3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary c. 3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 1–2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower greenish-cream or pale straw-orange in colour.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals (3.5)5–6 × 1.5–2.6 mm, ovate, acute, the lateral sepals oblique.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals (3.5)5–6 × 0.7–1.4 mm, lanceolate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip auriculate at the base, 4–5.3 mm long, 3-lobed at about halfway; mid-lobe 2–3 × 1–1.5 mm, triangular; side lobes spreading, 3–3.8 mm long, filiform, sometimes with a few threads; spur 9–10 mm long, straight, slender.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column c. 1.5 mm long.
[FZ]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers yellow, orange or brownish orange, sometimes tinged with green, fragrant.
[FWTA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0