Rhipidoglossum rutilum (Rchb.f.) Schltr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

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Synonyms:	Diaphananthe rutila (Rchb. f.) Summerh.
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Description:	Pendent epiphyte or rarely lithophyte. Stem up to 40 cm long; roots c. 2 mm in diameter, often lightly attached to the host. Leaves several, up to 12 cm long, linear to oblanceolate, unequally 2-lobed at the apex, olive green, leathery. Inflorescences 1-many, more or less pendent, arising from the stem between the leaves. Flowers from purple-khaki in more exposed situations (see photos) to pale creamy in deeply shaded forest. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate; lateral sepals sickle-shaped, 2-4.5 mm long; petals almost round, 1.5-2.8 mm long. Lip broader than wide, curved down and backwards. Spur 6-11mm slender, incurved.
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Flowering time:	Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Gulf of Guinea Islands, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Z
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte.
Endemic status:
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 108 - 109. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 27. Fischer, E., Killmann, D., Delepierre, G. & Lebel, J-P. (2010). The Orchids of Rwanda Koblenz Geographical Colloquia Series Biogeographical Monographs 2 Pages 384 - 385. (Includes a picture). Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 80. Kimberley, M.J. (2003). A List of Epiphytic Orchids of Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Page 50. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 424 - 425. La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 72 - 73. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 272. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I.F. & La Croix T.M. (1983). Orchids of Bvumbwe The Society of Malawi Journal 36(2) Page 16. 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 95. Morris, B. (1970). Epiphytic Orchids of Malawi The Society of Malawi Pages 91 - 93. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 118. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 44. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 188 - 189. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 84. As Rhipidoglossum rutilum

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Flora of the DRC: Rhipidoglossum rutilum
Flora of Malawi: Rhipidoglossum rutilum
Flora of Mozambique: Rhipidoglossum rutilum
Flora of Zambia: Rhipidoglossum rutilum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Rhipidoglossum rutilum

External websites:

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