Distribution
provided by EOL authors
South Africa, Malawi: Nyika National Park, Mzimba, Mzuzu, Blantyre.
Habitat
provided by EOL authors
This orchid is found in Brachystegia woodland or mountain grassland at an altitude of 1100-2285m (3608-7496ft).
Conservation Status
provided by EOL authors
Trade controlled to avoid use incompatible with species survival - Global
General Ecology
provided by EOL authors
Monkeys, grasshoppers, mice and other rodents feed on the orchid.
Flowering time
provided by EOL authors
From February to April
Uses - food
provided by EOL authors
This is an edible orchid. Its tubers are collected from the wild and prepared into a meatless sausage called chinaka. The chinaka is eaten as relish or just as a snack. The tubers are traded within Malawi and across Tanzania and Zambia.
Uses - medicine
provided by EOL authors
The orchid's tubers are used for the treatment of fontanelle, ringworms, abdominal pains, coughing, heart attack, eye sores, rheumatism and kidneys.
