Records determined by Nicholas Wightman

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy 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

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.

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.

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 open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in small open/deciduous patches within Itigi thicket 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

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.

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

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

Clumped habit

Single habit

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Close up of the dense inflorescence

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay 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

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.

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

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

Growing in disturbed miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

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

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

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

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

Mature bulbs are loose with easily separated scales (which can be used for propagation) though they produce enough seed that it is usually not needed

The inflorescence appears in July to August as the cool dry season transitions into the hot dry season.

The linear leaves appear with the arrival of the rains and are an attractive bluish green colour.

The black papery winged seeds ripen before the rains and are wind distributed.

Original location:Lat:-13.306722, Long:25.086128 Zambian prov. Nw, Altitude:1190

Growing in disturbed miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing in riverside grassland edge amidst Pandanus livingstonianus

Lightly degraded Brachystegia woodland in compacted sandy loam soil

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

Flowers usually open singulary on each branch.

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.

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.

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

Picture showing the rostellum mid-lobe standing in front of the anthers.

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

Plant found growing near a seepage area by farm roadside

Growing in rocky miombo woodland in larger soil pockets in sandy loam soil with higher leaf litter concentrations

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing on rock cliff beside Muzinga Falls

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay loam soils

Mottled and solid green leaved plants growing together in habitat

Close up of the dense inflorescence

Scrub sections of Munga woodland in sandy loam soil

Scrub sections of Munga woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing in riverside grassland and sprawling over rocky outcrops

Growing in dry disturbed rocky grassland beside the Nkamba airstrip in Nsumbu National Park

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay loam soils

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

Growing on large boulder on rocky hillside in heavy leaf litter

Growing on large boulder on rocky hillside in heavy leaf litter

Growing in open exposed areas of savannah grasslands in sandy soils

Growing in dense shade of Itigi thicket in sandy loam to clay loam soils

Found growing near and flowering at the same time as Protea matonchiana.

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay 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.

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

Growing at base of rock cliff beside Muzinga Falls in sandy loam to clay loam soils

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

Old bulbs have a rhizomatous nature as they grow from which sometimes offset bulbs can develop.

The blooms of Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. multiflorus being pollinated by a species of sunbird.

Growing in small soil pockets and crevices of rocky riverine stream bed

The infructescence develops just under the soil surface and when ripe, the berries detach easily and have a sweet fruity aroma

The numerous fleshy roots emerge from a short vertical rhizome (the inflorescence is unusally elongated from growing in a mounded vegetable row)

The tubers are roundish to discoid in shape with no easily discernible growing point

Growing in open areas of miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing along the margins of Brachystegia woodlands and tall grasslands in sandy loam soils

Growing in rocky lakeside grassland by Lake Tanganyika in sandy loam to sandy soils

Growing along the margins of Brachystegia woodlands and tall grasslands in sandy loam soils

The irregularly shaped tubers cluster closely together and are usually quite deep in the soil (circa. 20-30cm)

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay loam soils