134.0000
Family
Orchidaceae Juss.; Gen. Pl. [Jussieu] 64 (1789), nom. cons.
over 800 genera, more than 30.000 spp. worldwide, mostly tropical
Species listed in database: 30648; hybrids: 1477
= Apostasiaceae Lindl.; Nix. Pl. 22 (1833), nom. cons.
= Cypripediaceae Lindl.; Nix. Pl. 22 (1833)
= Limodoraceae Horan.; Char. Ess. Fam. 44 (1847)
= Liparidaceae Vines; Stud. Text-book Bot. 2: 567 (1895)
= Neottiaceae Horan.; Prim. Lin. Syst. Nat. 50 (1834)
= Neuwiediaceae R.Dahlgren ex Reveal & Hoogland; Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., B, Adansonia, Sér. 4, 13: 91 (1991)
= Ophrydaceae Vines; Stud. Text-book Bot. 2: 566 (1895)
= Pycnanthaceae Ravenna; Onira 12(6): 29 (2011)
= Vanillaceae Lindl.; Key Bot. 73 (1835)
134.6421
Genus
Polystachya Hook.; Exot. Fl. t. 103 (1825), nom. cons.
Distribution: tropics and subtropics: mostly tropical and South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, a smaller group C-/South America/West Indies (16), only 1 sp. tropical Asia from India, Sri Lanka through Indochina to New Guinea. Splitting of several smaller genera by Szlachetko et al. is not followed here.
Species listed in database: 248; hybrids: 1
= Chelystachya Mytnik & Szlach.; Biodivers. Res. Conservation 23: 17 (2011)
= Dendrobianthe (Schltr.) Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 24 (2008)
= Dendrorchis Thouars ex Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891), orth. var.
= Dendrorkis Thouars; Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 314-19 (1809), et ex Revis. Gen. Pl. 658 (1891), nom. rej.
= Disperanthoceros Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 7: 65 (2007)
= Epiphora Lindl.; Compan. Bot. Mag. 2: 201 (1837)
= Epiphorella Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 13 (-15) (2008)
= Geerinckia Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 7(2): 62 (2007)
= Isochilostachya Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 80 (2011)
= Neobenthamia Rolfe; Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, 10: 272 (1891), et Bot. Mag. t. 7221 (1892), et Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, 16: 272, fig. 33 (1894)
= Neoburttia Mytnik, Szlach. & Baranow; Polish Bot. J. 56(1): 46 (45-49) (2011)
= Nienokuea A.Chev.; Compt. Rend. Hebd. Séances Acad. Sci. 220: 634 (1945)
= Rhopalorrachis Klotzsch ex Rchb.f.; (1857)
= Szlachetkoella Mytnik; Richardiana 7: 57 (2007)
= Unguiculabia Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 19 (-21) (2008)
species :
Polystachya aconitiflora
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 295 (1942)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; SW-Uganda
23 RWA ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya vulcanica var. aconitiflora (Summerh.) P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 34(1): 177 (1979)
species :
Polystachya acridolens
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [2]: 126 (1947 publ. 1948)
Distribution: S-Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya acuminata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [2]: 127 (1948)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis acutifolia Lindl. ex Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya adansoniae
Rchb.f.; Flora 48: 185 (1865)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Angola; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe
22 GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE TOG 23 BIO BUR CAF CMN EQG GAB RWA ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 ANG MLW ZAM ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis adansoniae (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya adansoniae var. elongata Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 135 (1953)
= Polystachya alboviolacea Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 17: 50 (1893)
= Polystachya caillei Guillaumin; Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris), 26: 672 (1920)
= Polystachya dusenii Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 251 (1894)
= Polystachya laxa R.Schust.; Orchidee (Hamburg) 18: 250 (1967) (tentative synonym fide Lebrun & Stork)
= Polystachya nigerica Rendle; Cat. Pl. Oban [Rendle et al.] 103 (1913)
species :
Polystachya aethiopica
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 749 (1978)
Distribution: Ethiopia
24 ETH
species :
Polystachya affinis
Lindl.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 73 (1830)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Benin; Nigeria; Cameroon; Annobon Isl.; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Angola
22 BEN GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE TOG 23 ANN CAF CMN CON EQG GAB ZAI 25 UGA 26 ANG
Remarks: not in Madagascar fide Hermans et al. 2025
Synonyms: hidden
= Chelystachya affinis (Lindl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Biodivers. Res. Conservation 23: 19 (2011)
= Dendrorkis affinis (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis bracteosa (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya bracteosa Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 26(Misc.): 48 (1840)
= Polystachya villosa Cogn.; J. Orchidées 7: 139 (1896) [non Rolfe]
= Polystachya villosula Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 414 (1915)
species :
Polystachya albescens
Ridl.; Bol. Soc. Brot. 5: 199 (1887)
subspecies :
subsp. albescens
Distribution: S-Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Principe Isl.; São Tomé; Annobon Isl.; ?Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
22 NGA 23 ANN BIO CMN GAB PRI SAO
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya epidendroides Schltr.; (1937)
subspecies :
subsp. angustifolia
(Summerh.) Summerh.; Kew Bull. 13: 75 (1958)
Distribution: SW-Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea
23 CMN EQG
Conservation Status: IUCN V
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya angustifolia Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 388 (1931)
= Polystachya mildbraedii var. angustifolia (Summerh.) Geerinck; Fl. Rwanda 4: 610 (1988)
subspecies :
subsp. imbricata
(Rolfe) Summerh.; Kew Bull. 13: 75 (1958)
Distribution: Cameroon; Annobon Isl.; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Rwanda; Tanzania; Angola; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; ?Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces); Eswatini [Swaziland]
23 ANN CMN EQG GAB RWA 25 TAN 26 ANG MLW ZAM ZIM 27 SAF SWZ
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya imbricata Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1893: 172 (1893)
= Polystachya oligophylla Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 566 (1915)
subspecies :
subsp. kraenzlinii
(Rolfe) Summerh.; Kew Bull. 13: 75 (1958)
Distribution: Gabon; Tanzania
23 GAB 25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya imbricata subsp. kraenzlinii (Rolfe) Summerh.; Kew Bull. [11]: 226 (1956)
= Polystachya kraenzlinii Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 112 (1897)
subspecies :
subsp. manengouba
Sanford; Fl. Cameroun 35: 550 (2001)
Distribution: Cameroon
23 CMN
subspecies :
subsp. musozensis
(Rendle) Summerh.; Kew Bull. 13: 75 (1958)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya imbricata subsp. musozensis (Rendle) Summerh.; Kew Bull. [11]: 226 (1956)
= Polystachya musozensis Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 37: 217 (1904)
subspecies :
subsp. polyphylla
(Summerh.) Stévart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 26(2): 229 (2004)
Distribution: Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
23 CMN EQG GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya polyphylla Summerh.; Kew Bull. [11]: 228 (1956)
subspecies :
subsp. principensis
Stévart; Syst. Geogr. Pl. 70(1): 144 (2000)
Distribution: Principe Isl.
23 PRI
species :
Polystachya alicjae
Mytnik; Monogr. Polystachyinae 155 (2011)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya alpina
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 131 (1862)
Distribution: SE-Nigeria; W-Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]
22 NGA 23 BIO CMN
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis alpina (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya preussii Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 17: 51 (1893)
= Polystachya talbotii Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1910: 282 (1910)
= Polystachya winkleri Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 154 (1906)
= Unguiculabia alpina (Lindl.) Szlach. & Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 21 (2008)
species :
Polystachya amazonica
Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 42(2): 77 (1925)
Distribution: Colombia (Vaupés); Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro); Guyana; Surinam; French Guiana; Ecuador; N-Brazil (Roraima, Pará, Amazonas); NE-Brazil (Maranhao)
82 CLM FRG GUY SUR VEN 83 ECU 84 BRA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya stenophylla Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 42(2): 113 (1925)
species :
Polystachya anastacialynae
Eb.Fisch., Killmann, J.-P.Lebel & Delep.; Orchidee (Hamburg) 61(2): 79 (2010)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya anceps
Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 473 (1885)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina); Comores (Anjouan, Grande Comore)
29 COM MDG
Remarks: not in the Mascarenes fide Hermans, Cribb & Pailler (2023)
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis anceps (Ridl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya mauritiana var. anceps (Ridl.) H.Perrier; Fl. Madagasc. 1: 251 (1939)
species :
Polystachya angularis
Rchb.f.; Flora 50: 114 (1867)
Distribution: +NW-Angola
26 ANG
Remarks: known only from type collected 1857
species :
Polystachya anjahankeliensis
Hermans, Nusb. & Buriv.; Kew Bull. 80(3): 462 (2025)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya anthoceros
la Croix & P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 51(3): 571 (1996)
Distribution: SE-Nigeria
22 NGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Disperanthoceros anthoceros (la Croix & P.J.Cribb) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 7(2): 66 (2007)
species :
Polystachya armeniaca
la Croix & P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 51(3): 573 (1996)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; ?E-Angola; Zambia
23 ZAI 26 ZAM
species :
Polystachya asper
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 34(1): 168 (1979)
Distribution: W-Zambia
26 ZAM
species :
Polystachya aurantiaca
Schltr.; Ann. Mus. Colon. Marseille, Sér. 3, 1: 165 (1913)
Distribution: Madagascar (Mahajanga, Toliara)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya bamendae
Szlach., Baranow & Mytnik; Pl. Syst. Evol. 300(1): 22 (2013)
Distribution: W-Cameroon (Bamenda Highlands)
23 CMN
species :
Polystachya bancoensis
Burg; Misc. Pap. Landbouwhoogeschool 19: 23 (1980)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Ghana
22 GHA IVO
Synonyms: hidden
= Chelystachya bancoensis (Burg) Mytnik & Szlach.; Biodivers. Res. Conservation 23: 21 (2011)
= Polystachya affinis var. nana J.B.Hall; Kew Bull. 29(2): 428 (1974)
species :
Polystachya batkoi
Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 586 (2001)
Distribution: SW-Cameroon; Gabon; ?D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 CMN GAB
species :
Polystachya bella
Summerh.; Kew Bull. 14: 137 (1960)
Distribution: Kenya
25 KEN
species :
Polystachya bennettiana
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 113 (1878)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Nigeria; Cameroon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; ?South Sudan; Ethiopia; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania
22 IVO NGA 23 CMN RWA ZAI 24 ETH 25 KEN TAN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis bennettiana (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya stricta Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 63 (1909)
species :
Polystachya bequaertii
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [3]: 131 (1948)
Distribution: Sierra Leone; Liberia
22 LBR SIE
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobianthe bequaertii (Summerh.) Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 26 (2008)
species :
Polystachya bicalcarata
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 36: 118 (1905)
Distribution: Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]
22 NGA 23 BIO CMN
species :
Polystachya bicarinata
Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 236 (1908)
Distribution: W-Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda; Kenya
23 BIO BUR CMN RWA ZAI 25 KEN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya eusepala Kraenzl.; Wiss. Ergebn. Deut. Zentr.-Afr. Exped. (1907-1908), Bot. 2: 79 (1910)
species :
Polystachya bicolor
Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 114 (1906)
Distribution: Seychelles (Mahé Isl., Silhouette Isl.)
29 SEY
species :
Polystachya bifida
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 129 (1862)
Distribution: Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; São Tomé; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda
22 NGA 23 BIO CMN CON EQG GAB RWA SAO ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis bifida (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya farinosa Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 17: 51 (1893)
species :
Polystachya bipoda
Stévart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 26(2): 218 (2004)
Distribution: Equatorial Guinea; NW-Gabon
23 EQG GAB
species :
Polystachya biteaui
P.J.Cribb, la Croix & Stévart; Kew Bull. 54(4): 999 (1999 publ. 2000)
Distribution: São Tomé
23 SAO
Synonyms: hidden
= Unguiculabia biteaui (P.J.Cribb, la Croix & Stévart) Szlach. & Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 21 (2008)
species :
Polystachya boliviensis
Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 483 (1913)
Distribution: Peru; Bolivia (La Paz, Santa Cruz, Tarija)
83 BOL PER
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya simacoana Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 63 (1929)
species :
Polystachya brassii
Summerh.; Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9: 81 (1954)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Zambia; Malawi
23 ZAI 26 MLW ZAM
species :
Polystachya bruechertiae
Eb.Fisch., Killmann & J.-P.Lebel; Orchidee (Hamburg) 60(1/2): 105 (2009)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
Remarks: known only from type collected 2007
species :
Polystachya brugeana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 49 (3-4): 412 (1979)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
Remarks: known only from type collected 1957
species :
Polystachya caduca
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 110 (1878)
Distribution: Ethiopia
24 ETH
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis caduca (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Unguiculabia caduca (Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 21 (2008)
species :
Polystachya caespitifica
Kraenzl. ex Engl.; Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 47 (1894)
subspecies :
subsp. caespitifica
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya convallarioidea Mansf.; Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 1061 (1934)
subspecies :
subsp. hollandii
(Bolus) P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 34(1): 181 (1979)
Distribution: Tanzania; E-Zimbabwe
25 TAN 26 ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya hollandii L.Bolus; Ann. Bolus Herb. 2: 31 (1916)
subspecies :
subsp. latilabris
(Summerh.) P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 34(1): 181 (1979)
Distribution: Kenya; Tanzania
25 KEN TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya latilabris Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 297 (1942)
species :
Polystachya caespitosa
Barb.Rodr.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. 2: 168 (1882)
Distribution: SE-Brazil (Rio de Janeiro); S-Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul)
84 BRA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya juergensii Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 35: 80 (1925)
species :
Polystachya calluniflora
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 166 (1900)
Distribution: Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Gabon; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda; Zambia
22 NGA 23 BIO BUR CMN GAB RWA 25 UGA 26 ZAM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya trigonochila Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 167 (1900)
species :
Polystachya caloglossa
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 111 (1878)
Distribution: Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BIO BUR CMN CON EQG GAB RWA ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis caloglossa (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya excelsa Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 36: 117 (1905)
species :
Polystachya camaridioides
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [12]: 111 (1957)
Distribution: SE-Nigeria; ?W-Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]
22 NGA 23 BIO
species :
Polystachya campyloglossa
Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 366 (1909)
Distribution: Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; S-Malawi; E-Zimbabwe
25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW ZIM
species :
Polystachya canaliculata
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 12: 89 (1945)
Distribution: NE-Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya candida
Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 290 (1926)
Distribution: Origin unknown (possibly tropical E-Africa)
Error
Remarks: known only from two cultivated specimens
species :
Polystachya carnosa
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 34(1): 168 (1979)
Distribution: W-Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Gabon
23 BIO CMN GAB
species :
Polystachya caudata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [3]: 128 (1947 publ. 1948)
Distribution: NE-Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya caudata (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 80 (2011)
species :
Polystachya cingulata
Rchb.f. ex Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 81 (1926)
Distribution: Costa Rica
80 COS
Remarks: status doubtful
species :
Polystachya clareae
Hermans; Orchid Rev. 111 (1254): 354 (2003)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya clavata
Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 28(Misc.): 61 (1842)
Distribution: Mexico (Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Veracruz); Guatemala; Belize; Honduras; Nicaragua
79 MEX 80 BLZ GUA HON NIC
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis clavata (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya concreta
(Jacq.) Garay & H.R.Sweet; Orquideologia 9(3): 206 (1974), et R. A. Howard, Fl. Orchidac. 178 (1974)
Distribution: USA (Florida); Guatemala; El Salvador; Honduras; Nicaragua; Bahamas; Cuba; Cayman Isl.; Jamaica; Hispaniola (Haiti, Dominican Republic); Puerto Rico; Virgin Isl.; St. Eustatius; St. Kitts; ?Montserrat; Guadeloupe (incl. La Desirade, Les Saintes Isl.); Dominica; Martinique; St. Lucia; St. Vincent; Grenada; Tobago; Trinidad; Colombia (Cauca, Chocó); Venezuela (Amazonas, Apure, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela Distrito Federal, Falcon, Nueva Esparta, Sucre); Guyana; Surinam; French Guiana; Ecuador; Peru; Bolivia (La Paz, Santa Cruz, Tarija); N-Brazil (Roraima, Amapa, Pará, Amazonas, Tocantins, Rondônia); NE-Brazil (Maranhao, Ceara, Pernambuco, Alagoas); WC-Brazil (Mato Grosso, Goiás, Brasilia Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso do Sul); SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, São Paulo); S-Brazil (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina); Paraguay (Amambay, Guaira, San Pedro); Argentina (Corrientes, Jujuy, Misiones, Salta)
78 USA 80 ELS GUA HON NIC 81 BAH CAY CUB DOM GDL GRE HIS JAM MAR PUE STE STK STL STV TRT VIR 82 CLM FRG GUY SUR VEN 83 BOL ECU PER 84 BRA 85 ARG PAR
Remarks: The Old World P. tessellata is often included here
Synonyms: hidden
= Cranichis luteola Sw.; Fl. Ind. Occid. 3: 1433 (1804), nom. illeg.
= Epidendrum concretum Jacq.; Enum. Syst. Pl. 30, Select. Am. 228 (1760)
= Epidendrum minutum Aubl.; Hist. Pl. Guiane 2: 824 (1775) [non P. minuta A. Rich. & Galeotti]
= Polystachya caespitosa Kraenzl.; Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., n. s. 46(10): 45 (1911) [non Barb. Rodr.]
= Polystachya caquetana Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 27: 79 (1924)
= Polystachya colombiana Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 7: 156 (1920)
= Polystachya cubensis Schltr.; Symb. Antill. [Urban] 9: 59 (1923)
= Polystachya dagremondiana Kraenzl.; Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zürich 60: 428 (1915)
= Polystachya extinctoria Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 638 (1861)
= Polystachya luteola (Sw.) Hook.; Exot. Fl. t. 103 (1825), nom. illeg.
= Polystachya minuta (Aubl.) Britton; Fl. S.E. U.S. [Small] 328 (1903) [non A. Rich. & Galeotti]
= Polystachya tricuspidata Hoehne; Arq. Bot. Estado São Paulo, n. s., f. maior 2: 109 (1950)
species :
Polystachya confusa
Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 123 (1897)
Distribution: Kenya; Tanzania
25 KEN TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya ottoniana var. confusa (Rolfe) Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 87 (1926)
species :
Polystachya cooperi
Summerh.; Kew Bull. 17: 553 (1964)
Distribution: Nigeria
22 NGA
species :
Polystachya coriscensis
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 112 (1878)
Distribution: Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
22 NGA 23 BIO CMN CON EQG GAB ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis coriscensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya bituberculata Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 165 (1900)
= Polystachya kiessleri Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 153 (1906)
species :
Polystachya cornigera
Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 33: 155 (1924)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana, Antananarivo)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya cribbiana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 50 (1-2): 118 (1980)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda
23 RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya cultriformis
(Thouars) Lindl. ex Spreng.; Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 2: 742 (1826)
Distribution: Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Gabon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; South Sudan; Ethiopia; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces, Natal); Madagascar (Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa); Comores (Grande Comore, Moheli); Mauritius; La Réunion; Seychelles (Mahé Isl., Silhouette Isl.)
23 BIO BUR CMN GAB RWA ZAI 24 ETH SSU 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM 27 SAF 29 COM MAU MDG REU SEY
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobium cultriforme Thouars; Hist. Orchid., t. 87 (1822)
= Dendrorkis appendiculata (Kraenzl.) Kuntze; Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 21: 173 (1903)
= Dendrorkis cultridendris Thouars; Hist. Orchid., t. 87 (1822)
= Polystachya appendiculata Kraenzl.; Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 3: 238 (1903)
= Polystachya coelogynochila Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 292 (1926)
= Polystachya cultrata Lindl.; Bot. Reg. sub t. 851 (1824) [nom. superfl.]
= Polystachya cultrata var. nana S.Moore; Fl. Mauritius [J.G.Baker] 362 (1877)
= Polystachya cultriformis var. africana Schltr.; Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 20 (1924)
= Polystachya cultriformis var. alba Cordem.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya cultriformis var. autogama Schltr.; Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 20 (1924)
= Polystachya cultriformis var. erubescens Cordem.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya cultriformis var. humblotii Rchb.f.; Flora 68: 379 (1885)
= Polystachya cultriformis var. occidentalis Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 119 (1926)
= Polystachya gerrardii Harv.; Thes. Cap. 2: 49 (1863)
= Polystachya kirkii Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 283 (1895)
= Polystachya lujae De Wild.; Pl. Nov. Horti Then. t. 18 (1904)
species :
Polystachya dalzielii
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 418 (1927)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; S-Nigeria; W-Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea
22 GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE 23 CMN EQG
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella dalzielii (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 15 (2008)
species :
Polystachya danieliana
G.W.Hu, W.C.Huang & Q.f.Wang; Phytotaxa 405(4): 197 (2019)
Distribution: Kenya
25 KEN
Remarks: status unconfirmed
species :
Polystachya delepierrei
Eb.Fisch., Killmann, Lebel & T.Stévart; ined. in Orchids Rwanda 313 (2010)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya dendrobiiflora
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 76 (1878)
Distribution: Guinea; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Burundi; Kenya; Tanzania; Angola; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique
22 GUI 23 BUR CON ZAI 25 KEN TAN 26 ANG MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Cyrtopera flexuosa Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1894: 363 (1894)
= Dendrobianthe dendrobiiflora (Rchb.f.) Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 26 (2008)
= Dendrorkis dendrobiiflora (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Eulophia flexuosa (Rolfe) Gilg; Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas C: 157 (1895)
= Eulophia tayloriana (Rendle) Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 69 (1897)
= Eulophia vandervekeniana Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 47 (3-4): 484 (1977)
= Polystachya busseana Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 33: 60 (1902)
= Polystachya flexuosa (Rolfe) Schltr.; Kunene-Sambesi-Exped. [Warburg] 211 (1903)
= Polystachya holochila Schltr.; Kunene-Sambesi-Exped. [Warburg] 210 (1903)
= Polystachya kaessneriana Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34: 59 (1904)
= Polystachya macropetala Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 36: 117 (1905)
= Polystachya miranda Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 30: 286 (1901)
= Polystachya tayloriana Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 30: 385 (1895)
species :
Polystachya dewanckeliana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 49 (3-4): 413 (1979)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda
23 RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya disiformis
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 683 (1978)
Distribution: Kenya; NE-Tanzania
25 KEN TAN
species :
Polystachya disticha
Rolfe; Bol. Soc. Brot. 9: 139 (1891)
Distribution: São Tomé; ?Rwanda
23 SAO
species :
Polystachya doggettii
Rendle & Rolfe; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 235 (1908)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire] (Ruwenzori Mts.); W-Uganda
23 ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya schinziana Kraenzl.; Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zürich 68: 421 (1923), et Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 119 (1926)
species :
Polystachya dolichophylla
Schltr.; Westafrik. Kautschuk-Exped. 1899-1900: 277 (1900), nomen, et Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 8 (1905), descr.
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
22 GHA GUI IVO NGA SIE TOG 23 BIO CMN EQG GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya guerzorum A.Chev.; Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franç. 1: 617 (1920), nomen
= Polystachya hamiltonii W.W.Sm.; Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 8: 347 (1915)
= Polystachya oxychila Schltr. ex Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 98 (1926)
= Polystachya simoniana Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 61 (1926)
species :
Polystachya editae
Eb.Fisch., Killmann, J.-P.Lebel, Delep. & Nzigid.; Orchidee (Hamburg) 2(9)E: 7 (2016)
Distribution: Burundi
23 BUR
species :
Polystachya elastica
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 131 (1862)
Distribution: Sierra Leone; Liberia
22 LBR SIE
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobium roseum Sw.; Neues J. Bot. 1: 97 (1805)
= Dendrorkis elastica (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Epiphorella elastica (Lindl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 15 (2008)
= Lissochilus roseus (Sw.) Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 29(Misc.): 25 (1843)
species :
Polystachya elatior
(Rchb.f.) Peraza & Carnevali; Phytotaxa 2: 52 (2012)
Distribution: Mexico (Chiapas); Guatemala; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Colombia
79 MEX 80 COS GUA NIC 82 CLM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya masayensis var. elatior Rchb.f.; Bonplandia (Hannover) 3: 217 (1855)
species :
Polystachya elegans
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 113 (1878)
Distribution: Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
22 NGA TOG 23 BIO CMN EQG GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis elegans (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya calyptrata Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 51: 392 (1914)
= Polystachya mannii Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 117 (1897)
= Unguiculabia elegans (Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 21 (2008)
species :
Polystachya engongensis
Stévart & Droissart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 29(1): 34 (2007)
Distribution: Equatorial Guinea
23 EQG
species :
Polystachya epiphytica
De Wild.; Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot., Sér. 4, 172 (1902)
Distribution: SE-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; ?E-Angola; Zambia
23 ZAI 26 ZAM
species :
Polystachya erica-lanzae
Eb.Fisch., Killmann, J.-P.Lebel & Delep.; Orchidee (Hamburg) 63(2): 103 (2012)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya ericoides
Hermans & Callm.; Kew Bull. 80(3): [52 of 138] (2025)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana, Mahajanga)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya erythrocephala
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1931: 386 (1931)
Distribution: N-Zambia
26 ZAM
species :
Polystachya estrellensis
Rchb.f.; Linnaea 25: 231 (1852)
Distribution: N-Brazil (Roraima, Amapa, Pará, Amazonas); NE-Brazil (Maranhao, Pernambuco, Bahia, Alagoas, Sergipe); WC-Brazil (Goiás, Brasilia Distrito Federal); SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro); S-Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul); Ilha da Trindade
84 BRA ITR
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis estrellensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya eurychila
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 492 (1939)
Distribution: Ethiopia; Uganda; NW-Kenya
24 ETH 25 KEN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya longi Chiov.; Bull. Orto Bot. Regia Univ. Napoli 15: 81 (1941)
species :
Polystachya eurygnatha
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [4]: 433 (1949)
Distribution: Uganda; W-Kenya
25 KEN UGA
species :
Polystachya expansa
Ridl.; Bol. Soc. Brot. 5: 198 (1887)
Distribution: São Tomé
23 SAO
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella expansa (Ridl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya fabriana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 56 (34): 492 (1986)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya fallax
Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 292 (1926)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; SW-Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya fischeri
Rchb.f., Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 97 (1926), descr.
Distribution: Kenya; Tanzania
25 KEN TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya kilimanjari Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 90 (1926)
species :
Polystachya flammulifera
Hermans; Kew Bull. 80(3): [55 of 138] (2025)
Distribution: Madagascar (Toamasina)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya foliosa
(Hook.) Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 640 (1863)
Distribution: Mexico (Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan); Guatemala; Belize; El Salvador; Honduras; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; Bahamas; Cuba; Jamaica; Hispaniola (Haiti, Dominican Republic); Puerto Rico; Virgin Isl.; Montserrat; Grenada; Tobago; Trinidad; Curacao; Colombia (Antioquia, Bolívar, Caquetá, Cauca, Magdalena, Santander); Venezuela (Amazonas, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolívar, Carabobo, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela Distrito Federal, Falcon, Lara, Merida, Miranda); Guyana; Surinam; French Guiana; Ecuador; Peru; Bolivia (Chuquisaca, La Paz); N-Brazil (Roraima, Amapa, Pará, Amazonas, Tocantins, Acre); NE-Brazil (Maranhao, Bahia); WC-Brazil (Mato Grosso, Goiás, Brasilia Distrito Federal); SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais, São Paulo); S-Brazil (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina); Paraguay (Paraguari); Argentina (Corrientes, Misiones, Salta)
79 MEX 80 BLZ COS ELS GUA HON NIC PAN 81 BAH CUB CUR GRE HIS JAM MTS PUE TRT VIR 82 CLM FRG GUY SUR VEN 83 BOL ECU PER 84 BRA 85 ARG PAR
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis caracasana (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis foliosa (Hook.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Encyclia polystachya Poepp. & Endl.; Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. [Poeppig & Endlicher] 2: 10 (1836)
= Epidendrum minimum Aubl.; Hist. Pl. Guiane 2: 825 (1775)
= Polystachya abbreviata Rchb.f.; Gard. Chron., n. s. 2: 291 (1874)
= Polystachya altilamellata Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10: 385 (1912)
= Polystachya bradei Schltr. ex Mansf.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 24: 245 (1928)
= Polystachya caracasana Rchb.f.; Bonplandia (Hannover) 2: 15 (1854)
= Polystachya cerea Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 26(Misc.): 86 (1840)
= Polystachya costaricensis Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 19: 223 (1923)
= Polystachya ecuadorensis Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 8: 90 (1921)
= Polystachya edwallii Hoehne & Schltr.; Arq. Bot. Estado São Paulo 1: 256 (1926)
= Polystachya fariae Campacci; Colet. Orquídeas Brasil. 8: 294 (2010)
= Polystachya foliosa var. triandra Sauleda & R.M.Adams; Brittonia 31: 294 (1979)
= Polystachya guatemalensis Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 141 (1921)
= Polystachya huebneri Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 42(2): 11a (1925)
= Polystachya micrantha Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 35: 81 (1925)
= Polystachya minor Fawc. & Rendle; J. Bot. 48: 106 (1910)
= Polystachya nana Klotzsch; Index Sem. (Berlin) 1853(App.): 12 (1853)
= Polystachya panamensis Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 17: 49 (1922)
= Polystachya poeppigii Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 9: 155 (1921)
= Polystachya powellii Ames; Schedul. Orchid. 7: 31 (1924)
= Polystachya rupicola Brade; Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 6: 76 (1951)
= Polystachya weigeltii Rchb.f.; Linnaea 25: 230 (1852)
= Stelis foliosa Hook.; Ann. Nat. Hist. 2: 330 (1839)
species :
Polystachya fractiflexa
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [11]: 224 (1956)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Gabon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
22 IVO 23 BIO CMN GAB ZAI
species :
Polystachya fulvilabia
Schltr.; Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 7: 278 (1918)
Distribution: SE-Nigeria; Cameroon; Gabon; E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda
22 NGA 23 CMN GAB ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya fusiformis
(Thouars) Lindl.; Bot. Reg. sub t. 851 (1824)
Distribution: Ghana; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Principe Isl.; São Tomé; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces, N-KwaZulu-Natal, E-Cape Prov.); Madagascar (Antsiranana, Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa); Mauritius; La Réunion; Seychelles (Mahé Isl.)
22 GHA 23 BIO CMN CON GAB PRI RWA SAO ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM 27 SAF 29 MAU MDG REU SEY
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobium fusiforme Thouars; Hist. Orchid. t. 86 (1822)
= Dendrorkis fusidendris Thouars; Hist. Orchid., t. 86 (1822), sphalm.
= Dendrorkis minutiflora (Ridl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya composita Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 103 (1926)
= Polystachya fusiformis var. purpurascens Cordem.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya fusiformis var. virescens Cordem.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya minutiflora Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 330 (1883)
= Polystachya multiflora Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 475 (1885)
species :
Polystachya galeata
(Sw.) Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 637 (1861)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Burkina Faso; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Nigeria; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Angola
22 BKN GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE 23 BUR CMN CON EQG GAB RWA ZAI 26 ANG
Synonyms: hidden
= Bulbophyllum galeatum (Sw.) Lindl.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 57 (1830)
= Dendrobium galeatum Sw.; Neues J. Bot. 1: 96 (1805)
= Dendrorkis galeata (Sw.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Eulophia cucullata Lindl.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 185 (1833), non (Afzel. ex Sw.) Steud.
= Polystachya cucullata (Lindl.) T.Durand & Schinz; Consp. Fl. Afr. [Durand & Schinz] 5: 34 (1892 publ. 1894)
= Polystachya gilletii De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 313 (1903)
= Polystachya grandiflora Lindl.; Bot. Mag. t. 3707 (1839)
= Polystachya macrantha Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 25(Misc.): 36 (1839), nom. superfl.
= Polystachya macrantha Lindl. ex Hook.; Bot. Mag. sub t. 3707 (1835)
= Polystachya quinqueloba Klinge; Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 17(1): 141 (1898)
variant :
var. babilonii
Geerinck; Fl. Afrique Centr., Orchid. (2): 406 (1992)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya babilonii (Geerinck) Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 57 (34): 484 (1987)
species :
Polystachya geniculata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [11]: 229 (1956)
Distribution: W-Cameroon
23 CMN
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella geniculata (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya geraensis
Barb.Rodr.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. 2: 168 (1882)
Distribution: WC-Brazil (Brasilia Distrito Federal); SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais)
84 BRA
species :
Polystachya goetzeana
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 30: 287 (1901)
Distribution: Tanzania; N-Malawi
25 TAN 26 MLW
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya goetzeana (Kraenzl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 80 (2011)
species :
Polystachya golungensis
Rchb.f.; Flora 48: 185 (1865)
Distribution: Liberia; Mali; Burkina Faso; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Nigeria; São Tomé; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Angola; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Mozambique
22 BKN GHA IVO LBR MLI NGA TOG 23 CAF CON GAB SAO ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 ANG MOZ ZAM ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis golungensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya coriacea Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 340 (1913)
= Polystachya johnsonii Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 291 (1926)
= Polystachya mayombensis De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 134 (1903)
= Polystachya spiranthoides Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 294 (1926)
species :
Polystachya gracilenta
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 251 (1894)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Burundi
23 BUR ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya purpureoalba Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 337 (1909)
species :
Polystachya greatrexii
Summerh.; Kew Bull. 20: 184 (1966)
Distribution: SE-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Burundi; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe
23 BUR ZAI 25 TAN 26 MLW ZAM ZIM
Conservation Status: IUCN I
Synonyms: hidden
= Geerinckia couloniana (Geerinck & Arbonn.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 7(2): 63 (2007)
= Polystachya couloniana Geerinck & Arbonn.; Belg. J. Bot. 129: 68 (1996 publ. 1997)
species :
Polystachya haroldiana
Rolfe; Orchid Rev. 13: 172 (1905), et Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, 27: 333 (1905)
Distribution: SE-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; SW-Tanzania
23 ZAI 25 TAN
species :
Polystachya hastata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 134 (1953)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; SW-Uganda
23 RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya heckeliana
Schltr.; Ann. Mus. Colon. Marseille, Sér. 3, 1: 167 (1913)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya heckmanniana
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 371 (1900)
Distribution: Kenya; S-Tanzania; NE-Zambia; Malawi
25 KEN TAN 26 MLW ZAM
species :
Polystachya henrici
Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 33: 158 (1924)
Distribution: Madagascar (Fianarantsoa, Antananarivo, Toamasina)
29 MDG
Remarks: not in the Mascarenes fide Hermans et al. (2023)
species :
Polystachya hoehneana
Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 73 (1926)
Distribution: SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais)
84 BRA
species :
Polystachya holmesiana
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(1): 155 (1977)
Distribution: SE-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Zambia; Malawi
23 ZAI 26 MLW ZAM
species :
Polystachya hologlossa
(P.J.Cribb & la Croix) Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 580 (2001)
Distribution: Zambia; Malawi
26 MLW ZAM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya calluniflora var. hologlossa P.J.Cribb & la Croix; Orchids Malawi 218 (1991)
species :
Polystachya holstii
Kraenzl.; Xenia Orchid. 3: 150, t. 287 (1896)
Distribution: SE-Kenya; NE-Tanzania
25 KEN TAN
species :
Polystachya humbertii
H.Perrier; Bull. Soc. Bot. France 83: 33 (1936)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina, Toliara)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya isabelae
Mytnik; Monogr. Polystachyinae 194 (2011)
Distribution: Uganda
25 UGA
Remarks: known only from type collected in 1998
species :
Polystachya isochiloides
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 498 (1939)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya isochiloides (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 81 (2011)
species :
Polystachya johnstonii
Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 124 (1897)
Distribution: Zambia; S-Malawi
26 MLW ZAM
variant :
var. roseopurpurea
la Croix & P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 52: 1002 (1997)
Distribution: Malawi
26 MLW
species :
Polystachya jubaultii
Pailler; Orchidophile (Paris) 195: 286 (2012)
Distribution: Mauritius; La Réunion
29 MAU REU
Remarks: in Szelengowicz & Tamon (2013) as ´Polystachya humbertii´. On Mauritius acutely threatened
species :
Polystachya kaluluensis
P.J.Cribb & la Croix; Orchids Malawi 233 (1991)
Distribution: Malawi; Mozambique
26 MLW MOZ
species :
Polystachya kathriniae
Eb.Fisch. & Killmann; Orchidee (Hamburg) 6(2): 10, abb. 1-2 (2020)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya kermesina
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 333 (1909), et ex Summerh., Bull. MIsc. Inform. Kew 387 (1931)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda
23 RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya kingii
Summerh.; Kew Bull. 17: 555 (1964)
Distribution: W-Cameroon
23 CMN
species :
Polystachya kornasiana
Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 510 (2001)
Distribution: Cameroon; Congo [Brazzaville]
23 CMN CON
species :
Polystachya kubalae
Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 509 (2001)
Distribution: Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 CMN EQG GAB ZAI
species :
Polystachya kupensis
P.J.Cribb & B.J.Pollard; Kew Bull. 57(3): 656 (2002)
Distribution: W-Cameroon
23 CMN
species :
Polystachya lacroixiana
Geerinck; Belg. J. Bot. 126(2): 259 (1993 publ. 1994)
Distribution: Burundi
23 BUR
Remarks: known only from two collections 1992
species :
Polystachya laurentii
De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 132 (1903)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda
23 RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya lawalreeana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 49 (3-4): 414 (1979), as ´lawalreana´
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya lawrenceana
Kraenzl.; Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, 1893(II): 150 (1893)
Distribution: S-Malawi
26 MLW
species :
Polystachya laxiflora
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 129 (1862)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Benin; Nigeria; Cameroon; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
22 BEN GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE 23 BIO CMN EQG GAB ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis galericulata (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis laxiflora (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya dixantha Rchb.f.; Gard. Chron., n. s. 17: 294 (1882)
= Polystachya galericulata Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 111 (1878)
= Polystachya stricta var. laxiflora (Lindl.) Pérez-Vera; Orchidées Côte D´Ivoire 511 (2003)
species :
Polystachya lejolyana
Stévart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 26(2): 219 (2004)
Distribution: SW-Cameroon; Gabon
23 CMN GAB
species :
Polystachya leonardiana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 49 (3-4): 416 (1979)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya leonensis
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 112 (1878)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Ivory Coast; SW-Cameroon
22 GUI IVO SIE 23 CMN
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis leonensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya letouzeyana
Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 520 (2001)
Distribution: SW-Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
23 CMN EQG GAB
species :
Polystachya leucorhoda
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 337 (1909)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda
23 RWA ZAI 25 UGA
Remarks: valid species fide Fischer et al. 2017
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya poikilantha var. leucorhoda (Kraenzl.) P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 34(1): 173 (1979)
species :
Polystachya leucosepala
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 689 (1978)
Distribution: Kenya; Tanzania
25 KEN TAN
species :
Polystachya ligulifolia
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 133 (1953)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya lindblomii
Schltr.; Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 8: 226 (1922)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Ethiopia; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique
23 RWA ZAI 24 ETH 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW MOZ ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya ugandae Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 295 (1926)
species :
Polystachya lineata
Rchb.f.; Refug. Bot. [Saunders] 2: tt. 80, 81 (1869)
Distribution: Mexico (Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Chiapas, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz); Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Costa Rica
79 MEX 80 COS GUA HON NIC
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis lineata (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya lineata var. elatior Rchb.f.; Refug. Bot. [Saunders] 2: t. 81 (1872)
= Polystachya mcvaughiana Soto Arenas; Icon. Orchid. 5-6: t. 642 (2002 publ. 2003)
species :
Polystachya longiscapa
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 211 (1934)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobianthe longiscapa (Summerh.) Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 26 (2008)
= Neoburttia longiscapa (Summerh.) Mytnik, Szlach. & Baranow; Polish Bot. J. 56(1): 46 (2011)
species :
Polystachya lukwangulensis
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 762 (1978)
Distribution: C-Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya lukwangulensis (P.J.Cribb) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 81 (2011)
species :
Polystachya macropoda
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 137 (1953)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi
23 BUR RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya maculata
P.J.Cribb; Orchidee (Hamburg) 35(6): 233 (1984)
subspecies :
subsp. maculata
Distribution: Burundi
23 BUR
subspecies :
subsp. muloloensis
Eb.Fisch., Killmann, B.Dumbo & L.Dumbo; Orchidee (Hamburg) 6(2): 12, abb. 3-5 (2020)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya mafingensis
P.J.Cribb; Malawi Orchids 1: 96 (1983)
Distribution: NE-Zambia; Malawi
26 MLW ZAM
species :
Polystachya magnibracteata
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 684 (1978)
Distribution: Tanzania; Malawi; Mozambique
25 TAN 26 MLW MOZ
species :
Polystachya malilaensis
Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 566 (1915)
Distribution: SE-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Tanzania; ?Angola; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe
23 ZAI 25 TAN 26 MLW ZAM ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya zambesiaca var. malilaensis (Schltr.) Geerinck; Fl. Afrique Centr., Orchid. (2): 427 (1992)
species :
Polystachya masasayensis
Rchb.f.; Bonplandia (Hannover) 3: 217 (1855)
Distribution: Mexico (Chiapas); Guatemala; Belize; Honduras; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; Panama; Colombia (Arauca, Chocó); Venezuela (Apure, Barinas, Bolívar, Portuguesa, Tachira)
79 MEX 80 BLZ COS GUA HON NIC PAN 82 CLM VEN
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis masasayensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya cavanayensis Garay & Dunst.; Venez. Orchid. Ill. [Dunsterville & Garay] 6: 378 (1976)
species :
Polystachya mauritiana
Spreng.; Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3: 742 (1826)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Principe Isl.; São Tomé; Annobon Isl.; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; ?South Sudan; Ethiopia; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Zanzibar; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces, Natal, Cape Prov.); Eswatini [Swaziland]; Madagascar (Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliara); Comores (Anjouan, Mayotte); Mauritius; La Réunion; Seychelles (Mahé Isl., Silhouette Isl.); China (NW-Yunnan); India (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu); Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka; Nicobar Isl.; Myanmar (Mandalay); Thailand; Laos; Cambodia; Vietnam; peninsular Malaysia; +Singapore; Sumatra; Borneo (Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah); Sulawesi; Philippines; Java; Lesser Sunda Isl. (Bali, Sumba, East Timor); Moluccas; Hawaii [I] (Oahu [I])
22 GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE TOG 23 ANN BIO BUR CAF CMN CON EQG GAB PRI RWA SAO ZAI 24 ETH 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM 27 SAF SWZ 29 COM MAU MDG REU SEY 36 CHI 40 IND SRL 41 CBD LAO MYA NCB THA VIE 42 BOR JAW LSI MLY MOL PHI SNG SUL SUM 63 haw
Synonyms: hidden
= Callista flavescens (Blume) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 654 (1891)
= Dendrobium flavescens (Blume) Lindl.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 85 (1830)
= Dendrobium parvum Seidenf.; Opera Bot. 124: 30 (1995)
= Dendrobium polystachyon Sw.; Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 247 (1800)
= Dendrobium polystachyon Sw. ex Thouars; Hist. Orchid. t. 85 (1822)
= Dendrorkis extinctoria (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis jussieuana (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis minuta (Aubl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis polydendris (Thouars) Unknown; Hist. Orchid. t. 85 (1822)
= Dendrorkis polystachyon (Sw.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis purpurea (Wight) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis rufinula (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis tessellata (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis wightii (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis zollingeri (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Maxillaria luteola Beer; Prakt. Stud. Orchid. 266 (1854), nom. superfl.
= Maxillaria purpurea (Wight) Beer; Prakt. Stud. Orchid. 266 (1854)
= Onychium flavescens Blume; Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 325 (1825)
= Polystachya buchananii Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1893: 335 (1893)
= Polystachya flavescens (Blume) J.J.Sm.; Orch. Java 284 (1905)
= Polystachya gracilis De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 136 (1903)
= Polystachya hypocrita Rchb.f.; Gard. Chron., n. s. 16: 685 (1881)
= Polystachya jussieuana Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 641 (1861)
= Polystachya kraenzliniana Pabst; Orquídea (Rio de Janeiro) 18: 190 (1957)
= Polystachya latifolia De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 138 (1903)
= Polystachya lehmbachiana Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 166 (1900)
= Polystachya lepidantha Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 290 (1926)
= Polystachya lettowiana Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 54 (1926)
= Polystachya luteola Frapp.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895), nom. illeg.
= Polystachya luteola var. exsanguis Frapp.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya luteola var. paniculata Frapp.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya luteola var. tincta Frapp.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895)
= Polystachya minuta Frapp. ex Cordem.; Fl. Réunion [Cordemoy] 190 (1895), non (Aubl.) Britton)
= Polystachya penangensis Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 32: 344 (1896)
= Polystachya pleistantha Kraenzl.; Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, 1897(I): 118 (1897)
= Polystachya praealta Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 36: 118 (1905)
= Polystachya purpurea var. lutescens Gagnep.; Fl. Indo-Chine [P.H.Lecomte et al.] 6: 434 (1934)
= Polystachya purpurea Wight; Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. [Wight] 5: t. 1679 (1851)
= Polystachya reichenbachiana Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 127 (1926)
= Polystachya rufinula Rchb.f.; Gard. Chron., n. s. 11: 41 (1879)
= Polystachya seidenfadeniana Mytnik & Baranow; Pl. Syst. Evol. 290(1-4): 59 (2010)
= Polystachya siamensis Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 32: 343 (1896)
= Polystachya singapurensis Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 32: 343 (1896)
= Polystachya tessellata Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 130 (1862)
= Polystachya tessellata var. tricruris (Rchb.f.) Schelpe; S. African J. Bot. 28: 280 (1963)
= Polystachya tricruris Rchb.f.; Flora 50: 118 (1867)
= Polystachya wightii Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 640 (1861)
= Polystachya zanguebarica Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 115 (1897)
= Polystachya zeylanica Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 24(Misc.): 78 (1838)
= Polystachya zollingeri Rchb.f.; Bonplandia (Hannover) 5: 39 (1857)
species :
Polystachya mazumbaiensis
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 32(4): 691 (1978)
Distribution: NE-Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya melanantha
Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 26: 341 (1899)
Distribution: Tanzania; Mozambique
25 TAN 26 MOZ
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya conocharis Kraenzl. ex Engl.; Veg. Erde [Engler & Drude] 9 (Pflanzenw. Afr.) 2: 409 (1908)
= Polystachya ionocharis Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 371 (1900)
= Polystachya uniflora De Wild.; Pl. Nov. Horti Then. t. 19 (1904)
species :
Polystachya melliodora
P.J.Cribb; Orchidee (Hamburg) 34(5): 193 (1983)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya meyeri
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 32(4): 693 (1978)
Distribution: ?Rwanda; Uganda
25 UGA
species :
Polystachya microbambusa
Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 245 (1926)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; ?Cameroon
22 GUI IVO LBR SIE
Synonyms: hidden
= Nienokuea bambusoides A.Chev.; Compt. Rend. Hebd. Séances Acad. Sci. 220: 634 (1945)
= Nienokuea lutea A.Chev.; Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franç. 1: 622 (1920) ex Summerh., Fl. W. Trop. Afr. [Hutchinson & Dalziel] 2: 429 (1936)
= Nienokuea microbambusa (Kraenzl.) A.Chev.; Compt. Rend. Hebd. Séances Acad. Sci. 220: 634 (1945)
= Polystachya cyperacearum A.Chev.; Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franç. 1: 616 (1920), nomen, et ex Summerh., Fl. W. Trop. Afr. [Hutchinson & Dalziel] 2: 429 (1936)
species :
Polystachya mildbraedii
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 334 (1909)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda
23 ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya megalogenys Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 138 (1953)
species :
Polystachya minima
Rendle; J. Bot. 33: 198 (1895)
Distribution: Zambia; Malawi
26 MLW ZAM
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya minima (Rendle) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 81 (2011)
species :
Polystachya modesta
Rchb.f.; Flora 50: 114 (1867)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Benin; Nigeria; Cameroon; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Angola; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique; South Africa (Natal)
22 BEN GHA IVO NGA TOG 23 BUR CAF CMN CON GAB RWA ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 ANG MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM 27 SAF
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis shirensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis similis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya duemmeriana Kraenzl.; Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zürich 74: 102 (1929)
= Polystachya kindtiana De Wild.; Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot., Sér. 5, 1: 21 (1903)
= Polystachya nitidula Rchb.f.; Flora 50: 114 (1867)
= Polystachya rigidula Rchb.f.; Flora 50: 117 (1867)
= Polystachya shirensis Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 112 (1878)
= Polystachya similis Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 112 (1878)
species :
Polystachya monolenis
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 198 (1935)
Distribution: Sierra Leone
22 SIE
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella monolenis (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya monophylla
Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 322 (1916)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Toliara)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya montiquetiana
Stévart & Geerinck; Syst. Geogr. Pl. 73(2): 281 (2003)
Distribution: São Tomé; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
23 EQG GAB SAO
species :
Polystachya moreauae
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 32(4): 698 (1978)
Distribution: Zambia
26 ZAM
species :
Polystachya mukandaensis
De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 139 (1903)
Distribution: Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; São Tomé; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Angola
22 GHA IVO LBR NGA TOG 23 CAF CMN CON GAB SAO ZAI 25 UGA 26 ANG
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya dorotheae Rendle; Cat. Pl. Oban [Rendle et al.] 103 (1913)
= Polystachya huyghei De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 315 (1903)
= Polystachya plehniana Schltr.; Westafrik. Kautschuk-Exped. 1899-1900: 277 (1900), nomen, et Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 8 (1905), descr.
species :
Polystachya mystacioides
De Wild.; Notices Pl. Utiles Interessantes Fl. Congo 133 (1903)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Cameroon; Gabon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
22 IVO 23 CMN GAB ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya crassifolia Schltr.; Westafrik. Kautschuk-Exped. 1899-1900: 277 (1900), nomen, et Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 7 (1905), descr.
= Szlachetkoella mystacioides (De Wild.) Mytnik; Richardiana 7: 58 (2007)
species :
Polystachya mzuzuensis
P.J.Cribb & la Croix; Orchids Malawi 226 (1991)
Distribution: Malawi
26 MLW
species :
Polystachya neobenthamia
Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 7 (1905), et in Warb., Kunene-Sambesi-Exped. 210 (1903)
Distribution: E-Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Neobenthamia gracilis Rolfe; Bot. Mag. t. 7221 (1892), et Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, 16: 272, fig. 33 (1894)
= Polystachya holtzeana Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 51: 392 (1914)
species :
Polystachya ngomensis
G.McDonald & McMurtry; Field Guide Orchids N. S. Afr. Swaziland 468 (2008)
Distribution: South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpulamanga)
27 SAF
species :
Polystachya nguruensis
P.J.Cribb & Hemp; Lankesteriana 23(3): 586 (2023)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya nyanzensis
Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 37: 217 (1904)
Distribution: Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Central African Republic; Uganda
23 BIO CAF 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya obanensis
Rendle; Cat. Pl. Oban [Rendle et al.] 102 (1913)
Distribution: Liberia; Ivory Coast; Nigeria; Cameroon; Gabon
22 IVO LBR NGA 23 CMN GAB
species :
Polystachya oblanceolata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [11]: 231 (1956)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone
22 GUI SIE
species :
Polystachya odorata
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 130 (1862)
subspecies :
subsp. odorata
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Ghana; Nigeria; Cameroon; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda; Tanzania; Angola
22 GHA IVO NGA 23 BIO CAF CMN CON EQG GAB RWA ZAI 25 TAN UGA 26 ANG
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis odorata (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis usambarensis (Schltr.) Kuntze; Deutsche Bot. Monatsschr. 21: 173 (1903)
= Polystachya striata De Wild.; Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot., Sér. 5, 3: 58 (1909)
= Polystachya usambarensis Schltr.; Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 250 (1898)
subspecies :
subsp. gabonensis
(Summerh.) Stévart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 26(2): 225 (2004)
Distribution: Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
23 BIO EQG GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya gabonensis Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 496 (1939)
subspecies :
subsp. trilepidis
(Summerh.) Stévart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 26(2): 227 (2004)
Distribution: Nigeria
22 NGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya odorata var. trilepidis Summerh.; Kew Bull. [3]: 433 (1949)
species :
Polystachya oreocharis
Schltr.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 33: 160 (1924)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Antananarivo, Toliara)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya orophila
Stévart & E.Bidault; Phytotaxa 260(3): 250 (2016)
Distribution: Guinea
22 GUI
species :
Polystachya ottoniana
Rchb.f.; Hamburger Garten- Blumenzeitung 11: 249 (1855)
Distribution: Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces, Natal, W-Cape Prov., E-Cape Prov.); Eswatini [Swaziland]
26 MOZ 27 SAF SWZ
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis capensis (Sond. ex Harv.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis ottoniana (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Pleurothallis capensis (Sond. ex Harv.) Lindl.; Fol. Orchid. 9(Pleurothallis): 44 (1859)
= Polystachya capensis Sond. ex Harv.; Thes. Cap. 2: 51 (1863)
= Polystachya glaberrima Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 20(Beibl. 50): 11 (1895)
= Polystachya pisobulbon Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 397 (1912)
species :
Polystachya pachychila
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 139 (1953)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; ?Kenya
23 RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya pamelae
Eb.Fisch., Killmann & Nsanz.; Orchidee (Hamburg) 59(1): 54 (2008)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya paniculata
(Sw.) Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 113 (1897)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; São Tomé; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Ethiopia; Uganda
22 GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE TOG 23 BIO CAF CMN CON EQG GAB SAO ZAI 24 ETH 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobium paniculatum Sw.; Neues J. Bot. 1: 97 (1805)
species :
Polystachya parva
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 285 (1942)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Ghana; Nigeria; Cameroon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Zambia
22 GHA IVO NGA 23 CMN ZAI 26 ZAM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya bertauxiana Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 590 (2001)
= Polystachya billietiana Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 55 (34): 501 (1985)
= Unguiculabia parva (Summerh.) Szlach. & Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 21 (2008)
species :
Polystachya parviflora
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 463 (1937)
Distribution: Principe Isl.; São Tomé
23 PRI SAO
species :
Polystachya paulensis
Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 642 (1861)
Distribution: Ecuador; Peru; Bolivia (La Paz); S-Brazil (Paraná)
83 BOL ECU PER 84 BRA
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis nana (Poepp. & Endl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Dendrorkis paulensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Encyclia nana Poepp. & Endl.; Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. [Poeppig & Endlicher] 2: 10 (1837)
= Polystachya nana (Poepp. & Endl.) Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 638 (1863), nom. illeg.
= Polystachya peruviana C.Nelson, J.Sutherl. & Fern.Casas; Fontqueria 51: 4 (1998)
species :
Polystachya pergibbosa
H.Perrier; Notul. Syst. (Paris) 14: 149 (1951)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya perrieri
Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 322 (1916)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya pertliae
Hermans, Sieder & Andriant.; Kew Bull. 80(3): [98 of 138] (2025)
Distribution: Madagascar (Mahajanga, Antananarivo)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya piersii
P.J.Cribb; Orchidee (Hamburg) 34(5): 192 (1983)
Distribution: Kenya
25 KEN
species :
Polystachya pinicola
Barb.Rodr.; Gen. Sp. Orchid. 2: 169 (1882)
Distribution: SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais, São Paulo); S-Brazil (Santa Catarina)
84 BRA
species :
Polystachya pobeguinii
(Finet) Rolfe; Orchid Rev. 26: 107 (1918)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Cameroon; Principe Isl.; Gabon
22 GUI IVO LBR SIE 23 CMN GAB PRI
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphora pobeguinii Finet; Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 29 (1911)
= Epiphorella pobeguinii (Finet) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya pocsii
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 47(2): 257 (1992)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya poikilantha
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 337 (1909)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya polychaete
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 17: 50 (1893)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; São Tomé; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania
22 GHA GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE 23 BIO CMN CON EQG GAB RWA SAO ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya cussetii Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 582 (2001), as ´cussetei´
= Polystachya euspatha Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 398 (1912)
species :
Polystachya porphyrochila
J.Stewart; Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 42(7): 592 (1973)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya praecipitis
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 286 (1942)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya principia
Stévart & P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 59(1): 81 (2004)
Distribution: Principe Isl.
23 PRI
species :
Polystachya proterantha
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 686 (1978)
Distribution: Uganda
25 UGA
species :
Polystachya pseudodisa
Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 293 (1926)
Distribution: Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast
22 IVO LBR SIE
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella pseudodisa (Kraenzl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya puberula
Lindl.; Bot. Reg. sub t. 851 (1824)
Distribution: Guinea-Bissau; Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
22 GNB GUI IVO LBR SIE 23 CMN EQG GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis puberula (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya pubescens
(Lindl.) Rchb.f.; Ann. Bot. Syst. [Walpers] 6: 643 (1861)
Distribution: Zimbabwe; South Africa (Northern Provinces, Natal, E-Cape Prov.); Eswatini [Swaziland]
26 ZIM 27 SAF SWZ
Remarks: not in Madagascar fide Hermans et al. 2025
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis pubescens (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Epiphora pubescens Lindl.; Compan. Bot. Mag. 2: 201 (1836)
= Polystachya lindleyana Harv.; Thes. Cap. 2: 50 (1863)
species :
Polystachya pudorina
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 752 (1978)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya purpureobracteata
P.J.Cribb & la Croix; Orchids Malawi 234 (1991)
Distribution: Malawi
26 MLW
species :
Polystachya pyramidalis
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 130 (1862)
Distribution: Nigeria; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Congo [Brazzaville]; Angola
22 NGA 23 CMN CON EQG 26 ANG
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis pyramidalis (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya ensifolia Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 129 (1862)
= Polystachya sulfurea Brongn.; J. Gén. Hort. 15: 45 (1862)
species :
Polystachya ramulosa
Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 24(Misc.): 76 (1838)
Distribution: Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Nigeria; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Tanzania
22 GHA IVO LBR NGA SIE 23 CAF CMN CON EQG ZAI 25 TAN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis ramulosa (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya ramulosa var. angustifolia Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1939: 495 (1939)
species :
Polystachya reflexa
Lindl.; Edwards´s Bot. Reg. 27(Misc.): 18 (1841)
Distribution: Sierra Leone; Ivory Coast; Ghana
22 GHA IVO SIE
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis reflexa (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Epiphorella reflexa (Lindl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
= Polystachya liberica Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 72 (1908)
= Polystachya smytheana Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 71 (1908)
species :
Polystachya reticulata
Stévart & Droissart; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 29(1): 32 (2007)
Distribution: Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]
23 BIO
species :
Polystachya retusiloba
Summerh.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 385 (1931)
Distribution: Cameroon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 CMN ZAI
species :
Polystachya rhodochila
Schltr.; Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 34(2): 323 (1916)
Distribution: Madagascar (Mahajanga, Antsiranana, Toamasina)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya rhodoptera
Rchb.f.; Hamburger Garten- Blumenzeitung 14: 214 (1858)
Distribution: Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Nigeria; Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Principe Isl.; São Tomé; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; Central African Republic; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
22 IVO LBR NGA SIE 23 BIO CAF CMN CON EQG GAB PRI SAO ZAI
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis rhodoptera (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya carnea Brongn.; J. Gén. Hort. 15: 45 (1862)
= Polystachya subcorymbosa Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1926: 288 (1926)
= Polystachya wahisiana De Wild.; Belgique Colon. 10: 183 (1904)
species :
Polystachya ridleyi
Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 119 (1897)
Distribution: São Tomé; Annobon Isl.
23 ANN SAO
species :
Polystachya riomuniensis
Stévart & Nguema; Adansonia, Sér. 3, 26(2): 219 (2004)
Distribution: Equatorial Guinea
23 EQG
species :
Polystachya rivae
Schweinf.; Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: App. 2 88 (1894)
Distribution: Ethiopia; Eritrea
24 ERI ETH
species :
Polystachya rolfeana
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 167 (1900)
Distribution: Cameroon
23 CMN
species :
Polystachya rosea
Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 474 (1885)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Antsiranana, Toamasina)
29 MDG
Remarks: not in the Mascarenes fide Hermans et al. (2023)
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis rosea (Ridl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya hildebrandtii Kraenzl.; Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 36: 6 (1923)
species :
Polystachya rosellata
Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 330 (1883)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Antsiranana)
29 MDG
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis rosellata (Ridl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya cornigera var. integrilabia Senghas; Adansonia, Sér. 2, 4: 307 (1964)
= Polystachya tsinjoarivensis H.Perrier; Bull. Soc. Bot. France 83: 31, in clavi, 34 (1936)
species :
Polystachya rugosilabia
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [2]: 129 (1947 publ. 1948)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya rugosilabia (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 81 (2011)
species :
Polystachya ruwenzoriensis
Rendle; J. Bot. 33: 199 (1895)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi
23 BUR RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya rydingii
Baranow & Mytnik; Pl. Syst. Evol. 281: 11 (2009)
Distribution: Cameroon
23 CMN
species :
Polystachya saccata
(Finet) Rolfe; Orchid Rev. 26: 107 (1918)
Distribution: Guinea-Bissau; Guinea; Liberia; Nigeria; Gabon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Zambia
22 GNB GUI LBR NGA 23 GAB ZAI 26 ZAM
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphora saccata Finet; Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 30 (1911)
= Epiphorella saccata (Finet) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya samilae
Eb.Fisch., Killmann, J.-P.Lebel & Delep.; Orchidee (Hamburg) 61(4): 241 (2010)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya serpentina
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 760 (1978)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya serpentina (P.J.Cribb) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 81 (2011)
species :
Polystachya seticaulis
Rendle; Cat. Pl. Oban [Rendle et al.] 104 (1913)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Nigeria; Cameroon; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]
22 IVO NGA 23 CMN CON GAB ZAI
species :
Polystachya setifera
Lindl.; J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 6: 130 (1862)
Distribution: Principe Isl.
23 PRI
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis setifera (Lindl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya shega
Kraenzl. ex Engl.; Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 57 (1894), in Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas C: 155 (1895), et Bot. Jahrb. 22: 22 (1895)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya shega (Kraenzl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 82 (2011)
species :
Polystachya siederi
Hermans; Kew Bull. 76: 50, Fig. 7, 8 (2021)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana, Mahajanga)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya simplex
Rendle; J. Bot. 33: 199 (1895)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Ethiopia; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Malawi; Zimbabwe
23 RWA ZAI 24 ETH 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya aristulifera Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 37: 219 (1904)
= Polystachya pachyrhiza Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 334 (1909)
species :
Polystachya songaniensis
G.Will.; Orchid Rev. 90 (1062): 128 (1982)
Distribution: Malawi; Mozambique
26 MLW MOZ
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella songaniensis (G.Will.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya sosefii
Baranow & Mytnik; Pl. Syst. Evol. 281: 12 (2009)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Ethiopia
23 ZAI 24 ETH
species :
Polystachya spatella
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 251 (1894)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya elliotii Rendle; J. Bot. 33: 198 (1895)
species :
Polystachya stauroglossa
Kraenzl.; Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas C: 155 (1895), et Bot. Jahrb. 22: 22 (1895)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Tanzania
23 ZAI 25 TAN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya graminoides Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 289 (1926)
variant :
var. alata
Geerinck; Belg. J. Bot. 126(2): 260 (1993 publ. 1994)
Distribution: Burundi
23 BUR
species :
Polystachya steudneri
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 113 (1878)
Distribution: Nigeria; Cameroon; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; South Sudan; Ethiopia; Eritrea; Uganda; Kenya
22 NGA 23 CMN ZAI 24 ERI ETH SSU 25 KEN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis steudneri (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya beccarii Martelli; Fl. Bogos. 80 (1886)
= Polystachya compereana Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 55 (34): 502 (1985)
= Polystachya ellenbeckiana Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 33: 62 (1902)
species :
Polystachya stewartiana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 56 (34): 493 (1986)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya stodolnyi
Szlach. & Olszewski; Fl. Cameroun 35: 508 (2001)
Distribution: Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea
23 CMN EQG
species :
Polystachya stuhlmannii
Kraenzl.; Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas C: 155 (1895), et Bot. Jahrb. 22: 22 (1895)
Distribution: Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique
23 CMN CON EQG GAB ZAI 25 TAN UGA 26 MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya adansoniae var. stuhlmannii (Kraenzl.) Geerinck; Fl. Afrique Centr., Orchid. (2): 436 (1992)
species :
Polystachya suaveolens
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 757 (1978)
Distribution: Tanzania; Malawi
25 TAN 26 MLW
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya suaveolens (P.J.Cribb) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 82 (2011)
species :
Polystachya subdiphylla
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 294 (1942)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya subulata
Finet; Notul. Syst. (Paris) 2: 26 (1911)
Distribution: Guinea; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Togo; Nigeria; Cameroon; Central African Republic
22 GUI IVO LBR NGA SIE TOG 23 CAF CMN
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya inaperta Guillaumin; Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 29: 543 (1923)
species :
Polystachya subumbellata
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 32(4): 700 (1978)
Distribution: E-Zimbabwe; W-Mozambique
26 MOZ ZIM
species :
Polystachya superposita
Rchb.f.; Otia Bot. Hamburg. 111 (1878)
Distribution: Cameroon; Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Gabon
23 BIO CMN GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis superposita (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
species :
Polystachya supfiana
Schltr.; Westafrik. Kautschuk-Exped. 1899-1900: 278 (1900), nomen, et Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 38: 9 (1905), descr.
Distribution: Cameroon; Gabon
23 CMN GAB
species :
Polystachya teitensis
P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 32(4): 684 (1978)
Distribution: Kenya
25 KEN
species :
Polystachya tenella
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 293 (1942)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Uganda
23 RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya tenuissima
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 250 (1894)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Ghana; Cameroon; Congo [Brazzaville]; D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania
22 GHA IVO 23 CMN CON ZAI 25 KEN TAN UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya ashantensis Kraenzl.; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 294 (1926)
= Polystachya inconspicua Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 37: 218 (1904)
species :
Polystachya testuana
Summerh.; Kew Bull. 14: 136 (1960)
Distribution: Bioko Isl. [Fernando Poo]; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
23 BIO EQG GAB
Conservation Status: IUCN R
species :
Polystachya thomensis
Summerh. ex Exell; Bull. Inst. Franç. Afrique Noire, A 21: 467 (1959)
Distribution: São Tomé
23 SAO
species :
Polystachya transvaalensis
Schltr.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 20(Beibl. 50): 28 (1895)
subspecies :
subsp. transvaalensis
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; South Sudan; Uganda; Kenya; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces, N-KwaZulu-Natal); Eswatini [Swaziland]; Eswatini [Swaziland]
23 BUR RWA ZAI 24 SSU 25 KEN TAN UGA 26 MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM 27 SAF SWZ
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya natalensis Rolfe; Fl. Cap. [Harvey & auct. succ.] 5(3): 65 (1912), et Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 129 (1920)
= Polystachya nigrescens Rendle; J. Bot. 33: 201 (1895)
= Polystachya rendlei Rolfe; Fl. Trop. Afr. [Oliver et al.] 7: 112 (1897)
subspecies :
subsp. kahuziana
Mytnik; Monogr. Polystachyinae 160 (2011)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya tridentata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [8]: 136 (1953)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya ruwenzoriensis var. tridentata (Summerh.) Geerinck; Fl. Rwanda 4: 612 (1988)
species :
Polystachya troupiniana
Geerinck; Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 49 (3-4): 418 (1979)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda
23 RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya tsaratananae
H.Perrier; Bull. Soc. Bot. France 83: 30, in clavi, 32 (1936)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antsiranana, Toamasina, Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa)
29 MDG
species :
Polystachya uluguruensis
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 32(4): 695 (1978)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
species :
Polystachya undulata
P.J.Cribb & Podz.; Kew Bull. 32(4): 691 (1978)
Distribution: E-D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi
23 BUR RWA ZAI
species :
Polystachya vaginata
Summerh.; Kew Bull. [2]: 130 (1947 publ. 1948)
Distribution: Kenya; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe
25 KEN TAN 26 MLW ZAM ZIM
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya vaginata (Summerh.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 82 (2011)
species :
Polystachya valentina
la Croix & P.J.Cribb; Kew Bull. 51(3): 575 (1996)
Distribution: Zimbabwe; Mozambique
26 MOZ ZIM
species :
Polystachya victoriae
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 165 (1900)
Distribution: Ivory Coast; Cameroon; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon
22 IVO 23 CMN EQG GAB
Synonyms: hidden
= Epiphorella victoriae (Kraenzl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Richardiana 8(1): 16 (2008)
species :
Polystachya villosa
Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1894: 393 (1894)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi
23 ZAI 25 TAN 26 MLW ZAM
species :
Polystachya virescens
Ridl.; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 474 (1885)
Distribution: Madagascar (Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga); Mauritius; La Réunion
29 MAU MDG REU
Remarks: not in the Mascarenes fide Hermans, Cribb & Pailler (2023)
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis virescens (Ridl.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya luteola var. racemifera (S.Moore) Frapp.; (1895)
= Polystachya zeylanica var. racemifera S.Moore; Fl. Mauritius [J.G.Baker] 362 (1877)
species :
Polystachya virginea
Summerh.; Bot. Mus. Leafl. 10: 290 (1942)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
variant :
var. parva
Geerinck; Belg. J. Bot. 126(2): 260 (1993 publ. 1994)
Distribution: Burundi
23 BUR
species :
Polystachya vulcanica
Kraenzl.; Vierteljahrsschr. Naturf. Ges. Zürich 68: 422 (1923), et Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 113 (1926)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
species :
Polystachya walravensiana
Geerinck & Arbonn.; Belg. J. Bot. 129: 69 (1996)
Distribution: Burundi
23 BUR
species :
Polystachya waterlotii
Guillaumin; Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 34: 359 (1928)
Distribution: Comores (Mayotte, Anjouan, Grande Comore)
29 COM
species :
Polystachya winigeri
Eb.Fisch. & Killmann; Orchidee (Hamburg) 58(6): 753 (2007 publ. 2008)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]
23 ZAI
species :
Polystachya woosnamii
Rendle; J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 235 (1908)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; Rwanda; Burundi; Uganda
23 BUR RWA ZAI 25 UGA
Synonyms: hidden
= Polystachya longevaginata Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 333 (1909)
variant :
var. nyungweensis
Delep. & J.-P.Lebel; Taxonomania 2: 4 (2001)
Distribution: Rwanda
23 RWA
species :
Polystachya xerophila
Kraenzl.; Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34: 60 (1904)
Distribution: Tanzania
25 TAN
Synonyms: hidden
= Isochilostachya xerophila (Kraenzl.) Mytnik & Szlach.; Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 80(1): 82 (2011)
species :
Polystachya zambesiaca
Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 192 (1895)
Distribution: D.R.Congo [Zaire]; S-Tanzania; Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe; Mozambique; South Africa (Northern Provinces, Natal, E-Cape Prov.); Eswatini [Swaziland]
23 ZAI 25 TAN 26 MLW MOZ ZAM ZIM 27 SAF SWZ
Remarks: P. sandersonii is sometimes kept as separate species, but connected by transitions to P. zambesiaca
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrorkis pachyglossa (Rchb.f.) Kuntze; Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 658 (1891)
= Polystachya hislopii Rolfe; Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 375 (1914)
= Polystachya lawrenceana var. hislopii (Rolfe) Kraenzl.; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. 39: 86 (1926)
= Polystachya pachyglossa Rchb.f.; Linnaea 41: 73 (1876)
= Polystachya phiriae Fibeck; Orchids S. Africa 30: 42 (1999) (as ´phirii´)
= Polystachya sandersonii Harv.; Thes. Cap. 2: 49 (1863)
species :
Polystachya zuluensis
L.Bolus; Fl. Pl. South Africa 19: t. 727 (1939)
Distribution: Eswatini [Swaziland]
27 SWZ
Synonyms: hidden
= Dendrobianthe zuluensis (L.Bolus) Mytnik; Richardiana 8(1): 26 (2008)
species :
Polystachya ×nebulicola
G.McDonald & McMurtry; Field Guide Orchids N. S. Afr. Swaziland 469 (2008)
Distribution: South Africa (Mpulamanga)
27 SAF
Remarks: Polystachya ottoniana x transvaalensis
