Orchidaceae
Habenaria

Habenaria welwitschii Rchb.f.

First published in Flora 48: 179 (1865)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Uganda to S. Tropical Africa. It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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]

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb 27–72 cm tall; tubers c. 1.5 × 0.5 cm, ellipsoid.
Morphology Stem
Stem leafy.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 6–12, the lowermost usually sheathing, the next 3–6 semi-spreading, distichous, 6–20 × 0.5–2 cm, linear or narrowly lanceolate, somewhat folded; uppermost leaves bract-like.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 6–18 × 3–4.5 cm, fairly laxly 10–30-flowered; bracts 15–18 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers greenish-cream or green with pure white or pale yellow petals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary suberect or slightly arched, 18–25 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal usually reflexed but occasionally almost erect, 5–6.5 × 2–2.5 mm; lateral sepals deflexed, 7–9 × 4–6 mm, obliquely obovate with a lateral apiculum.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2-lobed almost to base; upper lobe recurved, 4–6 × 0.5 mm, linear, ciliolate; lower lobes spreading, 4–5.5 × 1.5–3 mm, obliquely obovate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed almost to base; mid-lobe 8–13.5 × 0.5 mm, linear; side lobes 4–5.5 × 1–1.5 mm, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse; spur 10–16 mm long, slightly incurved, slender, abruptly swollen for apical 3 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther c. 2.5 mm high, the loculi reclinate; canals porrect, 5–6 mm long, the tips upcurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmatic arms 5–7 mm long, porrect, slender, the tips enlarged and truncate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum mid-lobe 1.5–2 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

  • 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