Orchidaceae
Habenaria

Habenaria laurentii De Wild.

First published in Not. Pl. Util. Congo 1: 325 (1904)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
A terrestrial herb 2.5–7.5 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Tubers ellipsoid, ovoid or nearly globose, 2–3.5 cm. long, 1–2.5 cm. in diameter, densely tomentose.
Morphology Stem
Stem erect, rather stout, leafy throughout its length.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 6–11, rarely as many as 15, the lowermost 1–2 ± reduced to funnel-shaped sheaths, the middle ones ± spreading, ovate, elliptical or oblong-lanceolate, acute, the largest 7–22 cm. long, 2.5–7 cm. broad, the upper ones smaller, lanceolate, ± adpressed to the stem, similar to the bracts.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 6–22 cm. long, 10–15 cm. in diameter, rather loosely 3–15-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts leafy, lanceolate, acute, 3–8 cm. long, the lower ones sometimes equalling the pedicel with ovary, but usually shorter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers curved upwards, white or green with white central parts; pedicel with ovary upcurved, 6–8.5 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal erect, very convex, elliptical-lanceolate, acute, ± 2 cm. long and 1 cm. broad; laterals deflexed, rolled up lengthwise, very obliquely semi-obovate or semi-orbicular, acute, ± 2.5 cm. long, just over 1 cm. broad.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals bipartite nearly to the base; posterior (upper) lobe erect, ± adherent to the dorsal sepal, narrowly linear, ± 2 cm. long; anterior lobe curved upwards and outwards like a horn, linear below, subulate above, fleshy, 4–8.5 cm. long, ± 2 mm. broad below.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip projecting forwards, all lobes linear, tapering, ± incurved, the middle lobe 2.5–3.5 cm. long, the side lobes 2–3 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur curved backwards to form a bow, much swollen at the apex, 5.5–8 cm. long, the apical part 3.5–5 mm. in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther erect, 5–7 mm. long, canals porrect, curved upwards in front, slender, 1.3–2 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmas porrect, slender, abruptly widened and truncate at apex, 1.3–1.8 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum narrowly triangular, acute, 3.5–5.5 mm. long.
Habitat
In grassland, often among rocks or among scattered bushes; 1800–2100 in.
Distribution
Guinee Republic to Congo Republic, Zambia and Rhodesia K3 K5
[FTEA]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit
A leafy erect herb 1-3 ft. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
A loose raceme of large pale green and white flowers.
[FWTA]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb 25–75 cm tall; tubers to 3.5 × 2.5 cm, ellipsoid or ovoid.
Morphology Stem
Stem leafy.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 6–15, the lowermost 1–2 reduced to funnel-shaped sheaths; the mid-stem leaves spreading, the largest 6–22 × 2.5–7 cm, ovate, acute; the uppermost grading into the bracts.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 6–30 × 10–15 cm, fairly laxly 3–15-flowered; bracts 3–8 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers greenish, or sepals green, petals and lip white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 6–8.5 cm long, curving up.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal erect, 20–24 × 6–9 mm, elliptic, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, 22–28 × c. 10 mm, rolled lengthwise.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2-lobed ± to base, upper lobe 19–22 mm long, filiform, adnate to dorsal sepal; lower lobe 38–85 × 1.5–3 mm, horn-like, fleshy, curving upwards and outwards.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed to base, mid-lobe 24–36 mm long; side lobes 20–30 mm long; all narrowly linear; spur 5.5–8 mm long, slender but swollen to 3.5–5 mm diameter at apex, usually curved backwards, occasionally curved forwards.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther erect, 5–7 mm long; canals porrect, upturned at tips, 13–20 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmas porrect, 13–18 mm long, slender but widened and truncate at tips.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum 3.5–5.5 mm long, triangular.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0