Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Habenaria | > | armatissima |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Terrestrial herb up to 80 cm tall, growing from an ovoid or ellipsoid tuber up to 5 cm long. Basal leaves 2, appressed to the ground, ovate to reniform, 12–18 long and up to 25 cm wide, cordate at base, rather fleshy; stem-leaves c. 3 cm long. Inflorescence densely 10- to many-flowered, 16–30 cm long; bracts 15–30 mm long. Flowers white, more or less spreading. Pedicel 15–20 mm long, ovary arched, 30–35 mm long. Dorsal sepal erect, ovate, 11–16 mm long, convex, sometimes slightly reflexed at the tip; lateral sepals reflexed, obliquely ovate, 13–17 mm long. Petals 2-lobed more or less to base, both lobes filiform, less than 1 mm wide at base; posterior lobe 11–14 mm long, lying against the dorsal sepal; anterior lobe 30–40 mm long, deflexed or spreading. Lip 3-lobed with a basal, undivided part 2–3 mm long; mid-lobe linear, 15–20 mm long, less than 1 mm wide; side lobes filiform, 30–45 mm long; all pendent; spur 8.5–21.5 cm long, slender. |
Notes: | This species is easily confused with the similar Habenaria subarmata. That species is generally slightly smaller with a shorter spur (up to 7.5 cm). |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Grassland, and deciduous woodland, often on termite mounds. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1200 m |
Flowering time: | Feb - Apr (May) |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa and South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | Data deficient |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Sunday 24 May 2015 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 29. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 63. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 181. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 82. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 132 - 133. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 90. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 96. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 121. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Pages 130 - 131. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 66. |
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