6. Jumellea comorensis (Rchb. f.) Schltr.

(Fig. 8)

Beihefte zum Botanischen Centralblatt 33 (2): 428 (1915); Perrier de la Bâthie in Humbert H. (éd.), Flore de Madagascar, 49 e fam., Orchidées 2: 184 (1941); Stewart et al., Angraecoid orchids: 186 (2006).

— Basionym: Aeranthes comorensis Rchb.f. (1885: 540), Flora 68: 540 (1885). Mystacidium comorense (Rchb.f.) T. Durand & Schinz, Conspectus Florae Africae 5: 52 (1892); Angraecum comorense (Rchb. f.) Finet, Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 54: 13 (1907).

— Type: Grande Comore, littoral, 24.IX.1884, Humblot 1247 (holo-, W [W-Rchb. Orch. 0011606]!; iso-, P [P00090545, P00090546, P00090547]!).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Grande Comore, littoral, 24.IX.1884, Humblot 1247 (P [P00090545, P00090546, P00090547]!); 10.IV.1988, Monnerat s.n. (P [P00213135, P00213137]!); Mdjoiezi, 11°50’8”S, 43°19’8’’, 340 m, 13.XI.1999, Labat et al. 3119 (P [P00183978, P00183979]!); Bahani, 11°38’S, 43°18’E, 620 m, 20.VII.2000, Brionnaud 17 (P [P00216001, P00216002]!); Hantsongoma, 400 m, 26.II.2009, Rakotoarivelo et al. 039 (REU!). — Anjouan, Mont Tringui, 3.XI.2006, Labat et al. 3773 (P [P00527401]!).

DISTRIBUTION. — Endemic to Mayotte and the Comoros (Grande Comore, and Moheli). Up to 800 m elevation.

DESCRIPTION

Epiphytic plant; stem, erect or pendant, branched, can reach more than 50 cm in length, covered by appressed leaf sheaths, roots rarely distributed along the stem. Leaves grouped at the top of the stem, leathery, elliptical, folded(63-80× 8-11 mm), slightly bilobate at the apex. Each branch often bears a sin - gle or two lateral inflorescences. Peduncle 13 to 22 mm long, totally covered by three sterile bracts. All bracts tubuliform, persistent, apex obtuse. Fertile bract 15-17 mm long, inserted at the base of the pedicellate ovary (3.5-6 cm). Flower white; sepals and petals oval, crispate at the base and obtuse at the apex. Median sepal erect, similar to the lateral sepals (20-25 × 2.5-3.5 mm). Petals slightly smaller and thinner than sepals (21-22 × 1.5-2 mm), narrower at the base. Lip lanceolate, surface slightly folded (20-28 × 2.5-3 mm), carinate at the base (7-10 mm), widened at the lower third, apiculate. Spur very long (9-15 cm), angled, narrower toward the hole. Column 2-3 mm long; anther cap smooth, without any crest. Lobes of the rostellum acute at the tips. Tongue of the rostellum small and acute. Capsule fusiform, 2-4 cm long.