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| Synonyms: |
Bilabrella compta (Summerh.) |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Terrestrial herb 37–45 cm tall.Tubers 2–2.5 × c. 1 mm, ellipsoid.Stem leafy; leaves 7–9, the basal sheaths reticulate.Lower leaves 8–11.5 cm long and 3–6 mm wide, linear, acute; upper leaves bract-like.Inflorescence 7–13 × 4–5 cm, laxly or densely several- to many-flowered; bracts 15–20 mm long, finely reticulate.Flowers pale green.Ovary and pedicel 18–20 mm long.Dorsal sepal 4.5–5 × 1–1.5 mm, elliptic, reflexed, convex; lateral sepals 5.8–6.7 × 3–3.5 mm, oblique.Petals 2-lobed almost to base; upper lobe 3.9–6 × 0.2–0.7 mm; lower lobe 6.9–9.5 × 0.3–0.6 mm.Lip 3-lobed to less than 1 mm from base; mid-lobe 9–11 mm long, side lobes 7–9.5 mm long, all lobes c. 0.5 mm wide, linear; spur 25–30 mm long, slightly inflated at apex.Anther 3–3.5 mm high, canals c. 2 mm long, somewhat incurved.Stigmatic arms 2–3.3 mm long; rostellum mid-lobe 1.5 mm high. (Source: JSTOR/FZ) |
| Type location: |
Zambia, Mbala District |
| Notes: | It appears to be closely related to Habenaria huillensis from which it differs in having smaller flowers and shorter, incurved antherophores. Summerhayes (1968) describing H. compta mentiones Baum 425 collection from Angola, which is the type number of Habenaria kubangensis Schltr.. Summerhayes stated that original description and published reproduction of Schlechter's drawing of the latter species show certain discrepancies with the isotype specimen kept at COL. |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | On marshes |
| Altitude range: | 1500 m (approx) |
| Flowering time: | Aug |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola and Zambia |
| Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): | N |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 90 - 91. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 121. Summerhayes, V.S. (1962). African orchids XXVIII Kew Bulletin 16(2) Pages 274 - 277. Protologue (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 54 - 55. (Includes a picture). |
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