Brachycorythis tenuior flower column

Inside the flower of Brachycorythis tenuior the column comprises the reproductive parts of anther and stigma as well as pollinia, viscidia, caudicles, rostellum and more. Shapes and sizes of these vital reproductive components vary much among the genera and species of the very large Orchidaceae family.

The terrestrial orchids to which the Brachycorythis genus belongs, make up less than 30% of the about 26000 orchid species on earth. In southern Africa, however, terrestrial orchids predominate: about 88% of all the species that grow here are terrestrials.

This is so because of the local dry seasons, low humidity, fires and winter frost to which the terrestrial orchids with their tuberous root storage facilities are well adapted. Their evolution proceeded differently compared to the many epiphytic orchids that do not access benefits from the ground directly and find mainly other parts of the world suitable homes (Lowrey and Wright, 1987; Liltved and Johnson, 2012; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).