Didymoplexis africana Summerh.

Terrestrial, ± leafless, glabrous, saprophytic herb with slender scape up to 21 cm. high.. Roots arising at base of stem and towards apex of tuber, slender, branched.. Tubers fusiform, fleshy, up to 4 cm. long and 7 mm. broad, bearing ring-scars of cataphylls.. Stem arising at apex of tuber, erect, up to 7 cm. high, 3 mm. diameter, nearly always semi-flexuous, with 1–several minute sheath-like cataphylls along its length, well spaced towards base, closer above; peduncle slender, up to 10 cm. long; rhachis up to 4 cm. long, closely 1–many flowered; bracts spreading or recurved, ovate or triangular-ovate, 1–2 mm. long.. Flowers spreading or ± erect, white to cream, ± flushed rose-pink; pedicel with ovary 1 cm. long in flower.. Tepals ± connate for ± 1/2 their length, forming a lipped tube, upper ‘lip’ formed by dorsal sepal and petals, erect or slightly incurved, 3-lobed, lower ‘lip’ formed by lateral sepals, decurved, apex slightly bilobed.. Dorsal sepal ± 1.5 cm. long, 4 mm. broad; lateral sepals and petals up to 12 mm. long, 4.5 mm. broad.. Lip free, flabellate, orbicular, distinctly clawed, up to 11 mm. long and 5.5 cm. broad, apex of claw bearing reflexed or retrorsely placed ligule-like callus, apex of lip bearing transverse undulate callus.. Column erect, widened towards apex, up to 10 mm. long; stigma subelliptic; rostellum orbicular; anther hemispherical.. Capsule narrowly ellipsoid to fusiform, 2–3 cm. long, 1 cm. diameter at middle, pedicel lengthening up to 25 cm. when capsule ripening.. Fig. 52.