Orchidaceae
Habenaria

Habenaria nyikana Rchb.f.

First published in Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 100 (1881)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. Tanzania to S. Africa. It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 10–35 × 5–6 cm, laxly to fairly densely several- to many-flowered; bracts 15–30 mmlong, glandular at the base, scarious at the tips, the lowest about as long as the pedicel and ovary.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers green, white in centre.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 20–30 mm long, straight or slightly arched, spreading, the ovary usually longer than the pedicel.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals reflexed, somewhat scarious after flowers open; dorsal sepal 5–7.5 × 2–3 mm, elliptic; lateral sepals 7–10.5 × 5–7 mm, obliquely obovate with a lateral apiculum.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2-lobed almost to base, slightly ciliolate; upper lobe 5–7.5 × 0.5–1 mm, linear, curving back; lower lobes pendent, hinged, 9.5–14 × 1.5–2.5 mm, lanceolate, acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed almost to base; mid-lobe 11–15 mm long; side lobes 10–13 mm long; all lobes linear, less than 1 mm wide; spur 15–30 mm long, slender, inflated at apex, with 1 twist in the middle, parallel to pedicel and ovary or slightly incurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther 3.5–4 mm high; canals 4–7 mm long, porrect, curving up at tips.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmatic arms 4.5–6 mm long, porrect, truncate at apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum mid-lobe 2.5–3 mm long, narrowly triangular.
Morphology General Habit
Robust terrestrial herb to 100 cm tall.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Tubers 1.5–2.5 × 1 cm, ellipsoid, woolly.
Morphology Stem
Stem leafy.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 10–20, well spaced up the stem, the lowermost usually sheathing, the next 6–10 suberect, the largest 7–23 × 1–2 cm, linear or lanceolate, glossy green with 3 prominent longitudinal veins; the upper leaves appressed to stem and bract-like.
[FZ]

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]

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • 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 2025. 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 2025. 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