Habenaria holothrix Schltr.

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 1–3 dm. high.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers ellipsoid, 1–1.5 cm. long, scarcely 1 cm. in diameter, sparsely tomentose.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, slender, with a single leaf at the base and 2 or 3 lanceolate ± adpressed sheaths scattered along its length, spreading hairy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf adpressed to the ground, broadly ovate to almost orbicular, very shortly apiculate-acuminate, 1–3 cm. long, 1.5–3 cm. broad, cordate at the base, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs on the upper surface, margins ciliate; sheaths up to 1 cm. long, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 1–11 cm. long, ± 1.5 cm. in diameter, rather loosely 2–21-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 3–7 mm. long, shorter than the pedicel with ovary, softly hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers suberect and slightly curved outwards, green or yellow-green, sometimes fragrant; pedicel with ovary 7–11 mm. long, softly hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, ovate or elliptical-ovate, obtuse, convex, 3–4 mm. long, 2–3 mm. broad; laterals deflexed, obliquely elliptical-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, 3.5–4.5 mm. long, ± 1.5 mm. broad; all sepals spreading hairy outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals erect, 2-lobed or bipartite from below the middle, glabrous; posterior (upper) lobe curved-lanceolate, subacute, 2.5–3 mm. long, ± 1 mm. broad; anterior lobe very variable in length, 0.5–5 mm. long, only ± 0.25 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip curved downwards, tripartite from an undivided basal part 0.5–1 mm. long, glabrous; all lobes linear, obtuse, the middle lobe 3–6 mm. long, ± 0.75 mm. broad, the side lobes 1.5–5.5 mm. long, ± 0.25 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur parallel to the ovary, only slightly thickened in the apical half, 7–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther slightly incurved, ±1.5 mm. tall, rounded, canals upcurved, 0.5–1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmas stout with much broadened truncate apices, ± 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum

Rostellum triangular, somewhat hooded, scarcely 1 mm. long.

Habitat

Bare places on laterite or under trees; 950 m.

Distribution

T8

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix and P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:1. 1995

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 10–30 cm tall; tubers 1–1.5 cm long, ellipsoid, sparsely tomentose.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, with spreading hairs, with 1 basal leaf and 2–3 bract-like leaves.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaf appressed to the ground, 1–3 × 1.5–3 cm, broadly ovate to orbicular, cordate at base, apiculate, glabrous or with scattered hairs on upper surface, ciliate on margin; bract-like stem leaves c. 1 cm long, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 1–11 × 1.5 cm, laxly 2 to c. 20-flowered; bracts 3–7 mm long; all softly hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers green or yellow-green, sometimes fragrant.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Ovary and pedicel 7–11 mm long, softly hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, ovate, obtuse, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, 3.5–4 × 1.5 mm, obliquely lanceolate, obtuse or subacute; all sepals with spreading hairs on outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals glabrous, 2-lobed to 1–1.5 mm from base; posterior lobe erect, 2–3× c. 1 mm, curved-lanceolate, subacute; anterior lobe erect, 0.5–5 × c. 0.25 mm, filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip glabrous, curving down, 3-lobed to 0.5–1 mm from base; mid-lobe 2.8–6 mm long, c. 0.8 mm wide; side lobes filiform, 1.5–5.5 mm long; spur 7–10 mm long, slightly inflated in apical half, parallel to ovary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther c. 1.5 mm tall, slightly incurved, rounded; canals 0.5–1 mm long, upcurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic arms c. 1 mm long, stout, truncate at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum

Rostellum mid-lobe triangular, less than 1 mm long.