Brachycorythis iantha

Brachycorythis iantha (Wight) Summerh., Kew Bull. 10: 238 (1955) (syn: Habenaria iantha (Wight) Hook.f. ; Phyllomphax iantha (Wight) Schltr. ; Platanthera affinis Wight; Platanthera iantha Wight);
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Kerala as per Flora of Peninsular India;
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Common name: Violet Short-Helmet Orchid
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Unbranched herbs. Leaves 2.5-3 x 0.9-11 cm, elliptic-oblong, acute, 3-nerved, well spaced. Flowers pink, 1.5 x 1 cm; dorsal sepal 4.5 x 2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 3-veined; lateral sepals 7 x 2.5 mm, falcate, ovate-oblong, acute, 3-veined; petals 5 x 1.5 mm, lanceolate, obliquely acute at apex, 1 or 2-veined; lip 14 x 12 mm, obcordate with a large sinus, sac ovate, obtuse, 2 x 2 mm, biparted.
Flowering and fruiting: July-August
Grasslands
(Attributions: Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi as per India Biodiversity Portal)
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Brachycorythis sp. ID #548: 9 high res. images.
Please confirm the first and second set images from Vannappuram Idukki Kerala dated 25 JUNE 2023 in ID#548 is Brachycorythis wightii or Brachycorythis iantha.

Sharing more images
Location: bloomed near Vannappuram Thodupuzha Idukki Kerala INDIA

Altitude: 1500fsl

Flower date: 25JUN2023, 03.55pm

Habitat: wild moisture rock outcrop misty sloppy windy alpine

Plant habit: lithophyte Orchid, erect unbranched, weak angular fleshy stem 03.5mm base diameter, rhizome annual

Height: 06 inches

Leaves: alternate elliptic acute leathery glossy, petioleless size upto: 04 × 2cm

Flower: axillary buds, diameter:18mm, pinkish, non fragrant

Fruit: capsule green into brown ovoid ridges size:02.5 x 0.5cm

There are three species in Kerala, Brachycorythis iantha, Brachycorythis splendida and Brachycorythis wightii.

I somehow think this is Brachycorythis iantha or B. splendida.

One NOT SO USEFUL reference from South says B. iantha can be characterised by, “obovate or orbicular-obovate epichileof the lip with a triangular apiculus, petals that are adnate to the dorsal sepal forming a hood and characteristically curved and saccate hypochile.”. Are you able to see these characters in your plant?

I see apiculate epichile, a hood (but i don’t know if the petals and dorsal sepals are fused or not). I wish to see at least spur.

Thank you very much for your great detailed information. I also agree with you.

References:
POWO Catalogue of Life GBIF (High resolution specimens) High resolution specimen Flora of Peninsular India Flora of peninsular India India Flora Online Flowers of India India Biodiversity Portal Wikimedia Commons Plant illustrations

Updated on March 28, 2025

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