Orchidaceae
Habenaria

Habenaria strangulans Summerh.

First published in Kew Bull. 16: 295 (1962)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tropical 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 General Habit
Slender terrestrial herb 15–60 cm tall; tubers c. 2 × 1 cm, ovoid, woolly.
Morphology Stem
Stem leafy.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves to c. 14, the lowest 1–2 sheath-like; the intermediate 4–6 suberect, 6–16 cm × 4–7 mm, linear; upper leaves bract-like.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 8–20 × 4–5 cm, fairly laxly 10–30-flowered; bracts 12–15 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary semi-erect, 20–23 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal reflexed, 5–6 × 2–3 mm, elliptic; lateral sepals deflexed, 7–8 × 5–5.5 mm, oblique with a lateral apiculum.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2-lobed almost to base; upper lobe 4.5–6 × 0.6–0.7 mm, linear, erect; lower lobe 10–12.5 × c. 2 mm, lanceolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed almost to base; mid-lobe 11.5–12.5 mm long; side lobes 8.5–9.5 mm long; all lobes linear, c. 0.5 mm wide; spur 19–22 mm long, slender, swollen at apex, the apical third wrapped round the pedicel.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther 2–2.5 mm high; canals porrect, 4–5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmatic arms porrect, 4–5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum mid-lobe 1.5–2 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

    • '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