Records determined by Nicholas Wightman

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Large specimen c. 5 m tall growing in rocky outcrop near apex of escarpment protected from annual fires

Shrubby specimen c. 3 m tall growing near banks of Lunzua River

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in mature miombo woodland bordering dambo growing in Kalahari sand

Originally collected from lightly wooded grassland area bordering wet dambo growing on raised tussocks in clay loam soils

Growing in rocky/stony sandy soil amongst grasses and Xerophyta sp. in undisturbed miombo woodland

Chikanda is a local Zambian foodstuff made from the dried ground tubers of a range of terrestrial orchids in the genera Disa, Habenaria, Satyrium, Brachycorythis and Platycoryne

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kalongosola village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Plants can often be found in areas prone to annual fires

Close up of the flower showing the green central band on each tepal

Bulb showing the fibrous neck.

Abnormally tall forms

Recently described by Tom McCoy in Cactus and Succulent Journal, 89(6): 276-279.

Mature bulbs displaying long neck

The pure white flowers open about an hour after sunset.

By the first morning, the flowers have developed a slight pink tinge.

The inflorescence sometimes opens in succession leading to a contrast of the new and old flowers.

The infructescence develops quickly after fertilization producing sometimes dozens of seeds.

Seeds are irregular in shape due to their development and can range from pea-sized to over 1cm across.

The inflorescence begins to open in the early evening and the spadix emits a carrion-like odour to attract pollinators

Fully expanded flower shedding pollen the morning after the inflorescence first opened.

Inflorescences can appear from late October through to late December.

Fully expanded leaf with ripening seedhead.

Ripening berries can range in colour from orange to red and are dispersed by birds such as Bulbils.

The berries generally contain 1 to 2 seeds which are recalcitrant and germinate within several weeks from ripening.

The tubers are generally roundish to depressed globose depending on age and produce rhizomatous offsets as a means of vegetative propagation.

Frequent component of the woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Growing in exposed edge of roadside verge in sandy gravelly loam soils

Growing amid sparse grasses and forbs in open miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Slender herb growing in open dambo grassland

Locally common on the mounds of a species of Cubitermes

Growing in seepage areas over moss covered rocks in permanently shaded areas

Growing in rocky escarpment Brachystegia woodland in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing on flood susceptible river bank along the Kalungwishi R. in medium to light shade in clayish loam soil.

Growing in ruderal sites along roadsides and Nkamba Bay airstrip

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in small open/deciduous patches within Itigi thicket in sandy loam soil

Growing amid grasses in sandy loam soil

Growing in open miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing in disturbed miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open, hot areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in well drained section of perennially wet dambo grassland in sandy to sandy loam soil

Growing by a rocky outcrop in perennially wet dambo grassland in thin sections of sandy soil over rock or between cracks, oftern inundated in up to 2.5 cm of water.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Small population of albino flowered plants amid regular purple flowered plants

In low rocky outcrop in miombo woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Growing along streamside at the margins of riverine forest in sandy to sandy loam soils

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

The thin pods split along a the edge to release the narrow seeds, each with a tuft of hair to aid dispersion

The tubers are roundish to discoid in shape usually with a projection from the centre where the annual stems emerge.

Tubers appear to be stoloniferous in habit

The fleshy roots emerge from a short rhizome

Clumped habit

Single habit

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Close up of the dense inflorescence

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kaoma Distr., Western Province

Plant with immature seedpods found growing just above a drainage basin of the Munali Hills

The indistinct rhizome with numerous stout tuberous roots

Growing in exposed rocky outcrops amid grasses in sandy soil

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay loam soils

Erect shrubs c. 2-3 m tall growing in seasonally dry ravines in lake basin chipya woodland near landfill site

Growing in slightly disturbed miombo woodland along D36 road c. 15 km from D19 road turnoff.

The terminal inflorescences typically appear towards the middle of the rains lasting into the early dry season

Unripe four lobed fruits.

Straggly shrub c. 3 m tall growing on escarpment ledge

Growing along the margins of Itigi thicket and tall grass open munga woodland in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing in dense areas of Itigi thicket in sandy loam to clay loam soil

Growing in an open area at the base of escarpment woodland on edge of drainage channel in clay loam soils

The vertical rhizome can reach over 30cm in length and 2.5cm wide but are brittle and easily broken

Developing rhizomes adapt to obstacles during growth and can become misshapen.

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from C. spectabilis material collected in Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province and C. macranthus material sourced from Protea Hill Farm, Lusaka Distr., Lusaka Province

Growing widespread in woodland understory

Growing on upper reached of sand dune among Lapeirousia caudata and Trachyandra arvensis

Growing on flood prone riverbanks along the Lukulu R. in sandy to clayish soils

Growing amongst tall grasses by rail line access road edge

Growing amongst grasses and forbs in open area of munga woodland in sandy loam - Red arrows show the linear to filiform stipules

Growing in sandy upper bank along Lukulu River in open sparse woodland

Prostrate perennial herb with stems c. 50 cm long and shortly petiolate leaves.
Calyx 4 lobed and partially enclosing around corolla

Growing in wooded grassland in clay loam soil

Growing in disturbed miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Cultivated from material originally collected by Mike Bingham at the Mansa Research Station

Widespread in woodland understory climbing over herbs and shrubs

Growing at margin of Miombo woodland and riverside grassland in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing in undisturbed miombo woodland amongst grasses and forbs in sandy loam soil.

Occasional component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Naturally growing in the plant nursery section of Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi, Lusaka

Growing in rocky miombo woodland areas in soil pockets between boulders and cracks in the rocks scrambling up trees and shrubs or sprawling over the rocks.

Old plant growing at low level on base of trunk in rocky outcrop

Rocky outcrop slightly above and beside Kalonde Falls

Growing in the transition zone between Itigi thicket and Pericopsis woodland

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms, Plot 67, Farm 401a Lilayi, Lusaka

Occasional component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Large open perennially wet dambo grassland growing in black muck soils

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Confirmed species harvest for the Chikanda trade

Confirmed species harvest for the Chikanda trade