Schizochilus lilacinus fruits

Schizochilus lilacinus is a slender ground orchid growing annually to heights from 20 cm to 35 cm from a perennial tuber. In picture the developing fruits are shown after the blooming, which happens from mid-spring to early summer.

Two or three large, narrowly elliptic, semi-erect stem leaves are followed by smaller ones up the stem, grading into the floral bracts. The biggest leaves become about 10 cm long.

The arching inflorescence is borne at an angle, comprising 6 to 25 flowers. Flowers are white, with or without pink veins. The bracts may grow longer than the 7 mm long ovaries. Flower diameter is about 1 cm. The spur is notched, becoming up to 3 mm long.

The species distribution of this Mpumalanga endemic is small, only found along the escarpment between Graskop and Lydenburg. The habitat is montane grassland.

The plant is similar to S. crenulatus, differing mainly in leaf shape, habitat and the orientation of the inflorescence (www.orchidspecies.com; www.africanorchids.dk).