Phaius occidentalis Schltr.

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Chakwenga Headwaters and Nyabutaye Peat Bog, Rufunsa Distr., Lusaka Province

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Glabrous terrestrial herb 50-70 cm tall growing from fleshy pseudobulb-like structure c. 2-3 mm in diameter; leaves 5-6 ± rosulate in a tuft, c. 16 x 5 cm long, elliptic-lanceolate to obovate, plicate, petiole up to 5.5 cm long; inflorescence densely 5-6 flowered; flowers erect, white, the lip spotted with brownish-pink at base, the disk yellow; bracts 25-30 mm long; ovary and pedicel 13 mm long; dorsal sepal lanceolate, obtuse, hooded at apex, 25-30 x 6-10 mm, lateral sepals obliquely elliptic-lanceolate, 28-30 x 6.5-8 mm; petals c. 27 x 7 mm, lanceolate, acute, keeled; lip up to 28 x 16 mm, 3-lobed with a blunt, sac-like spur c. 3 mm long; mid-lobe up to 10 mm long with 3 raised hairy keels running from near apex to base of lip; side lobes rounded.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	occidentalis: western or westerly.
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Angola through Zambia and DRC to Uganda and Tanzania south through Malawi to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution:	C
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 68. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 84. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 274 - 275. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 174. 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. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 123. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 132 - 133. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Phaius occidentalis:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Phaius occidentalis
Flora of Zambia: Phaius occidentalis

External websites:

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