Habenaria malacophylla Rchb. f.

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Habenaria malacophylla

Protea Hill Farm
Mar 2014
Photo: Mike Bingham

Habenaria malacophylla

Protea Hill Farm
Mar 2014
Photo: Mike Bingham

Habenaria malacophylla

Protea Hill Farm
Mar 2011
Photo: Mike Bingham

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Habenaria holstii Kraenzl.
Habenaria polyantha Kraenzl.
Habenaria pulla Schltr.
Common names:
Frequency: Occasional to locally common
Status: Native
Description:
Slender terrestrial, 30-90 cm tall, with spreading oblanceolate leaves. Lowest leaves about 15 cm above ground; largest leaves around the middle of the stem. Inflorescence laxly to densely many-flowered. Flowers green and white. Dorsal sepal forming a hood over the column. Petals 2-lobed; upper lobes adnate to the dorsal sepal; lower lobes longer, linear, spreading and curving upwards. Lip 3-lobed; side lobes similar to lower petal lobes; midlobe pointing downwards. Spur 9-15 mm long, inflated in the middle, parallel to the ovary.
Type location:
South Africa
Notes: Proliferating by multiple tubers to form contiguous colonies.
Main risk: habitat loss.
Flowering time Feb-Mar.
See Habenaria amoena for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: Riverine forest, thicket clumps, in deep leaf litter.
Altitude range: 880 - 1800 m
Flowering time:Feb - May
Worldwide distribution: Western, Eastern, South-central and South Africa
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): N,W,C
Zambian distribution (Provinces): Cb,N,Lk
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status: Lower Risk - least concern
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Friday 11 November 2016
Literature:

Ball, J.S. (2009). Terrestrial African Orchids, A Selected Review. Pages 186 - 187. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 30.

Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 64.

Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 83.

Johnson, S., Bytebier, B, & Stärker H. (2015). Orchids of South Africa, a Field Guide Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 349. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 80 - 82.

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 80 - 81.

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 62 - 64. (Includes a picture).

Linder, H.P. & Kurzweil, H. (1999). Orchids of Southern Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 90-5410-445-7 Page 119. (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.

McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008). Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa Pages 124 - 125. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 121.

Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 518 - 519. (Includes a picture).

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 390.

Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 138. (Includes a picture).

Summerhayes, V.S. (1968). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 73 - 74.

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 45 - 46. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Habenaria malacophylla:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Habenaria malacophylla
Flora of Malawi: Habenaria malacophylla
Flora of Mozambique: Habenaria malacophylla
Flora of Zimbabwe: Habenaria malacophylla

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Habenaria malacophylla
African Plant Database: Habenaria malacophylla
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Habenaria malacophylla
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Habenaria malacophylla
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Habenaria malacophylla
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Habenaria malacophylla
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Habenaria malacophylla
JSTOR Plant Science: Habenaria malacophylla
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Habenaria malacophylla
Plants of the World Online: Habenaria malacophylla
Tropicos: Habenaria malacophylla
Wikipedia: Habenaria malacophylla


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Habenaria malacophylla.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=116910, retrieved 19 March 2024

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