Orchidaceae
Habenaria

Habenaria nyikensis G.Will.

First published in Pl. Syst. Evol. 134: 58 (1980)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Malawi (Nyika Plateau). 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 General Habit
Terrestrial herb 20–30 cm tall; tubers c. 2.5 cm long, ellipsoid.
Morphology Stem
Stem erect, with 1 basal leaf and20–30 bract-like stem leaves.
Morphology Leaves
Basal leaf appressed to the ground, c. 2.5 × 2.5 cm, ± orbicular, cordate at base, rounded or apiculate, fleshy with a hyaline margin; bract-like stem leaves 10–12 mm long, linear-lanceolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 10–15 × 3 cm, densely 20–30-flowered; bracts c. 17 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Ovary and pedicel arched, c. 10 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal erect,5 × 2 mm, ovate, convex; lateral sepals deflexed, c. 6 × 3 mm, obliquely ovate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2-lobed almost to base; posterior lobe 4 × 3 mm, curved lanceolate, adnate to dorsal sepal; anterior lobe 7 × 1.5 mm, linear, acute, curving up.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip decurved, 3-lobed to base; mid-lobe 8 × 1 mm, linear, acute; side lobes of similar length but less than half as wide, curving back; spur 9–10 mm long, twisted in the middle, horizontal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther c. 2 mm high, erect; canals c. 1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmatic arms c. 2 mm long, decurved and forming an angle of c. 45° with anther canals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum triangular, 0.8 mm high.
[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: 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

    • 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