Orchidaceae
Habenaria

Habenaria villosa Rolfe

First published in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 228 (1898)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to N. Mozambique. 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 ± 3 dm. high.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Tubers not seen.
Morphology Stem
Stem erect, slender, with a single basal foliage leaf and a number of very small sheaths scattered along its length, ± densely pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Basal leaf adpressed to the soil, reniform-orbicular, rounded at the apex, cordate at the base, 2–3 cm. long and 3.5- 4 cm. broad, glabrous with ciliate margins; sheaths on stem lanceolate, acuminate, 0.5–1.5 cm. long, ± densely pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 4–7 cm. long, 3 cm. in diameter, loosely to rather densely 8–11-flowered; rhachis pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts similar to the stem-sheaths, 5–12 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers suberect, not resupinate, facing outwards, no colour recorded; ovary with pedicel ±1.5 cm. long, pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Intermediate sepal at right angles to ovary or somewhat reflexed, convex, elliptical-ovate, rounded, ± 7 mm. long and 4 mm. broad; laterals scarcely spreading, obliquely lanceolate-elliptical, obtuse, a little longer than the intermediate sepal but only ± 3 mm. broad; all sepals sparsely hairy outside, the margins ciliolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals obliquely wedge-shaped, 2-lobed in the upper third, ± 8 mm. long; lobe nearest the intermediate sepal oblong-elliptical, rounded, ± 3 mm. long and 2 mm. broad, the lobe nearest the lip lanceolate-linear, subacute, ± 2 mm. long and 1 mm. broad, both lobes with papillose margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed in the apical half, ± 10 mm. long and broad between the ends of the side lobes, glabrous; basal undivided part ± 4 mm. long, somewhat widened upwards; middle lobe ± recurved, linear-ligulate, obtuse, 5–6 mm. long, just over 1 mm. broad; side lobes spreading forwards, ligulate, obtuse, about equalling the middle lobe but a little broader.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur hanging downwards, swollen in the apical third, ±1.5 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther 2 mm. high, rounded, loculi partly reclinate, canals slightly curved, ± 1.5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmas thick, ± curved downwards, club-shaped, just over 1 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum triangular, acute, 0.5–1 mm. long.
Habitat
Not recorded
Distribution
T6 not known elsewhere
[FTEA]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179518/1581437

Conservation
DD - data deficient
[IUCN]

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]

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb c. 35 cm tall.
Morphology Stem
Stem erect, slender with a single basal foliage leaf and c. 7 bract-like leaves 10–20 mm long. Stem, bract-like leaves, bracts, ovary and sepals all pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Basal leaf appressed to ground, 4–7 × 4–6 cm, heart-shaped, glabrous above but ciliate on edge, silvery with dark green veins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 5 × 3 cm, fairly densely 7–12-flowered; bracts c. 7 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers non-resupinate, rather campanulate in shape; sepals yellow-green, petals and lip clear lemon-yellow.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Ovary and pedicel suberect, 8–11 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal 7–7.5 × 3–4 mm, ovate, convex; lateral sepals 7–8 × 3 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 8.5–10 × 3.5–4 mm, 2-lobed in apical third; posterior lobe 3.5 × 2 mm; anterior lobe 2 × c. 1 mm, the tips of the lobes slightly reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 9–11 × 4 mm, 3-lobed about halfway along; mid-lobe 5–6 × 1–2.5 mm; side lobes 4–5.5 × 1–2 mm; spur 13–15 mm long, curving downwards, somewhat swollen at apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther c. 2 mm high; canals 1.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmas club-shaped, 1.25 mm long.
[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

  • 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/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/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