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Brachycorythis

Brachycorythis Lindley

An old World genus of 55 terrestrial species, this genus is represented in India by 8 dpecies. Three species have been reported to occur in Kerala.

1.Brachycorythis iantha (Wight) Summerh., Kew Bull.2:238/1955; Abraham and Vatsala 1981:254.

Platanthera iantha Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 5(1): 11. t. 1692. 1851.

P. affinis Wight, 1.c. 12. t. 1693. 1851

This species is characterized by the obovate or orbicular-obovate epichile of lip with a triangular apiculus, petals that are adnate to the dorsal sepal forming a hood and a characteristically curved and saccate hypochile.

Occurrence : Trivandrum District.

Distribution : National Endemic (From Bihar to Western Ghats).


brachycorythis

2.Brachycorythis splendida Summerh., Kew Bull. 2:240. 1955; Abraham and Vatsala 1981:256.

Habenaria iantha J.D. Hook., Fl. Britt. Ind. 6:164.1890, descr. tantum. partim, excl. syn.

This is the largest flowered species of the genus in Southern India.

Occurrence : Trivandrum, Idukki, Palghat and Wayanad Districts.

Distribution : Regional endemic (Kerala and Tamil Nadu).


acbrachycorythis-weighti3. Brachycorythis wightii Summerh., Kew Bull. 2: 242.1955; Pushpangadan and Sathish Kumar 1995:960.

Habenaria iantha J.D.Hook., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 164.1891. quoad descr., partim, excl. syn.

B. wightii is nearly allied to B. splendida and often seen together with it in field but differs in having a densely leafy stature with less clearly defined inflorescence and flower having free sepals and petals.

Occurrence : Idukki District.

Distribution : Local Endemic (Kerala).







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