Habenaria silvatica Schltr.

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 2–4 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers ellipsoid or globose, 1–2 cm. long, 8–16 mm. in diameter, densely tomentose.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, rather slender, leafy along its entire length.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 6–11, ascending or suberect, the 2–4 lowermost sheath-like, the middle ones narrowly lanceolate or almost linear, not much narrowed to base, acute, the largest 5–11 cm. long and 5–17 mm. broad, the uppermost 1–3 much smaller, lanceolate, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 6–19 cm. long, 2–4 cm. in diameter, rather loosely to densely 10- to many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 1–2.5 cm. long, longer than the pedicel with ovary and sometimes longer than the flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers suberect or ± spreading, green or yellowish-green; pedicel with ovary curved, 10–15 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, ovate or elliptical-ovate, rounded at the apex, convex, 4–7.5 mm. long, 2.5–4.5 mm. broad; laterals defiexed, obliquely lanceolate, subacute, 5.5–8.5 mm. long, 2–3 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals bipartite nearly to the base; posterior (upper) lobe curved-ligulate, acute, 4.5–7.5 mm. long, ± 1mm. broad; anterior lobe curved upwards, 4–11mm. long, longer or shorter, but always much narrower, than the posterior.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip defiexed or pendent, 3-lobed from an entire base 1.5–2 mm. long; middle lobe ligulate or broadly linear, 4.5–9.5 mm. long, ± 1 mm. broad; side lobes variously longer or shorter than the middle lobe but only half as broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur dependent, 7–16 mm. long, somewhat swollen in the apical half.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther 1.5–2 mm. high, rounded at apex, canals slightly incurved, scarcely 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmas decurved on to the base of the lip, narrowly club-shaped, 1.5–2.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum

Rostellum very broadly triangular, obtuse.

Habitat

Brachystegia and other woodland; 900–1500 m.

Distribution

T4 T7 T8

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix and P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:1. 1995

Morphology General Habit

Slender terrestrial herb 13–40 cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stem leafy, the lowermost 2–4 leaves sheath-like, the rest 4–7 × 0.4–1.7 cm, erect, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 4–25 cm long, fairly densely several- to many-flowered; bracts c. 15 mm long, lanceolate, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers green, spreading.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Ovary and pedicel arched, 8–12 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 5–6.5 × 3.5 mm, ovate, obtuse, erect; lateral sepals 5.5–6.5 × 2 mm, oblong-ovate, acute, deflexed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2-lobed ± to base; posterior lobe 4.5–6.5 × 0.8 mm, ± adnate to dorsal sepal; anterior lobe 2.5–3 × 0.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 3-lobed to c. 1 mm from the base, all lobes linear; mid-lobe 5.5–9 × 1 mm; side lobes 3.5 × 0.5 mm; spur 6–8 mm long, slender.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther 1.2–2 mm high; canals very short, less than 1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum Auricle

Auricles less than 1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic arms 1–1.8 mm long.