Habenaria lindblomii Schltr.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 2–6.5 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers ellipsoid or elongate-ovoid, 2–4 cm. long, 1–2 cm. in diameter, tomentose.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, slender to rather stout, with 2 unequal large leaves at the base and several smaller ones along its length.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves adpressed to the ground, opposite, ovate to transversely elliptical, apiculate, 3–6.5 cm. long, 3.5–9 cm. broad, fleshy; stem-leaves 5–10, ± adpressed to the stem, lanceolate or ovate, acute, up to 5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 7–19 cm. long, 3.5- 6 cm. in diameter, loosely to rather closely 7–21-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts similar to the stem-leaves, 1.5–2.7 cm. long, mostly not so long as the pedicel with ovary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers suberect or curving outwards, green with a white centre, strongly fragrant; pedicel with ovary 2–2.5 cm. long, the latter with 6 toothed wings.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, broadly lanceolate, acute, very convex, 0.8–1.6 cm. long, ± 7.5 mm. broad, with 3 toothed keels on the chief veins outside; laterals deflexed, very obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, 0.9–1.8 cm. long, 4–6 mm. broad, with a central toothed keel outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals bipartite nearly to the base; posterior (upper) lobe erect, curved, linear, 0.8–1.6 cm. long, ± 1 mm. broad; anterior lobe curved upwards, horn-like, subulate-linear, 1–2.5 cm. long, a little over 1 mm. broad near the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip projecting downwards, tripartite nearly to the base; lobes linear, the middle lobe 0.9–1.9 cm. long, 1–1.5 mm. broad, the side lobes slightly shorter and narrower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur ± parallel to the ovary, much swollen in the apical half, 1.4–2.3 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther erect, apiculate, 3.5–6.5 mm. high, canals slightly upcurved, ± 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmas porrect, cylindrical, rather stout, truncate at the apex, 4–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum

Rostellum narrowly triangular, acute, 2–5 mm. long.

Habitat

Grassland or Brachystegia woodland; 1400—2000 m.

Distribution

K3 K5 T7

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 30–60 cm tall; tubers 2–4 cm long, ovoid, villous.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, with 2 basal leaves and 5–10 bract-like leaves scattered along its length.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves appressed to ground, the larger 4–6.5 × 4.5–9 cm, ovate to reniform, apiculate, fleshy; bract-like leaves up to 5 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 7–19 × 3.5–7 cm, laxly or densely 8- to many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale green, white in centre, fragrant.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel 9–12 mm long, ovary 12–20 mm long with 6 toothed keels, suberect or arching.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, 9–15 × 4–8 mm, ovate, convex, with 3 toothed keels on outside; lateral sepals deflexed, 10–16 × 2.5–6.5 mm, obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, sometimes with the apex hooked, with a central toothed keel on the outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2-lobed ± to base; posterior lobe erect, 9–16 × 0.5–1.2 mm, linear; anterior lobe 14–25 mm long, c. 1 mm wide at base, curving up.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 3-lobed almost to base, all lobes linear, fleshy; mid-lobe 16–18.5 × 1–1.3 mm; side lobes 14.5–20 mm long, slightly narrower than mid-lobe; spur 17–23 mm long, very swollen at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther 3.5–6.5 mm high, erect, apiculate; canals c. 3 mm long, slightly upturned.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic arms 4–5 mm long, porrect, rather stout, truncate at apex, papillose below.