Habenaria genuflexa Rendle

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 2 dm. to 1 m. high, glabrous except for the roots and petals.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers ellipsoid to ovoid, 1–2.5 cm. long, 0.5–1 cm. in diameter, ± tomentose.

Morphology Stem

Stem erect, slender to rather stout, leafy throughout its length.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 7–11, the lowermost very rarely reduced to a sheath, the lowest 4–6 suberect or more often spreading, linear to lanceolate, acute, the largest 7–26 cm. long, 0.5–2(–2.5) cm. broad, the upper ones adpressed to the stem, often overlapping, much smaller, similar to the lowest bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 5–27 cm. long, 3.5–5.5 cm. in diameter, rather loosely 6- to many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 8–25 mm. long, usually shorter than the pedicel with ovary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers spreading, green with white petals and column; pedicel with ovary straight or somewhat bent, 1.5–2.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal refiexed, narrowly elliptical, obtuse, convex, 5–7.5 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. broad; laterals deflexed, obliquely obovate with lateral apiculum, 7–10 mm. long, 3.5–6 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals bipartite nearly to the base; posterior (upper) lobe refiexed, linear or ligulate, 4.5–7.5 mm. long, ± 1mm. broad, papillose and ciliolate; anterior lobe spreading forwards, narrowly lanceolate, acute, 8–16 mm. long, a little broader than the posterior, glabrous or rarely papillose at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip deflexed, tripartite from an undivided basal part 2–3.5 mm. long; middle lobe linear, ± incurved, 9–13 mm. long, over 0.5 mm. broad; side lobes linear, 6–11.5 mm. long, a little narrower than the middle lobe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur with an incurved knee-shaped bend in the middle, twisted once or twice, much swollen in the apical half, 8–13 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther 2–3 mm. high, loculi reclinate, canals porrect or incurved, 4–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmas porrect, suddenly swollen and truncate at apex, 5–7.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum

Rostellum triangular-linear, acute, ± 2 mm. long.

Distribution

Senegal and Portuguese Guinea eastwards to Sudan, Burundi and Congo Republics and Angola Hab. Short grassland (with or without bushes) and swamps800–2100 m. T1 T4 U2 U3 U4

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 20–100 cm high.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers 1–2.5 × 0.5–1 cm, ovoid to ellipsoid.

Morphology Stem

Stem leafy; leaves 7–11, the lowermost sometimes sheathing, the next 4–6 semi-erect or spreading, 7–26 × 0.5–2(2.5) cm, linear to lanceolate, acute; upper leaves becoming bract-like.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 5–27 × 3–5.5 cm, several- to many-flowered; bracts 8–25 mm long, usually shorter than pedicel and ovary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers green, white in centre, with an unpleasant smell.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 16–25 mm long, straight or more often bent at the junction so that the flowers are drooping.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 5–7.5 × 2–3.5 mm, elliptic, reflexed; lateral sepals deflexed, 7–10 × 3.5–6 mm, obliquely obovate with a lateral apiculum.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2-lobed almost to base; upper lobe 4.5–7.5 × c. 1 mm, linear, reflexed, papillose and ciliolate; lower lobe spreading forwards or deflexed, 8–16 × 1–1.5 mm, narrowly lanceolate, glabrous or papillose but not ciliate on margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 3-lobed to 2–3.5 mm from base; mid-lobe 9–13 × c. 0.5 mm, side lobes 6–11.5 mm long, slightly narrower than mid-lobe; all lobes linear; spur 8–10(13) mm long, twisted in the middle and swollen at the apex, usually incurved with a knee-like bend at about halfway.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther 2–3 mm high, the loculi reclinate; canals 4–6 mm long, porrect, the tips turned up.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic arms 5–7.5 mm long, porrect, slender but enlarged and truncate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum

Rostellum mid-lobe c. 2 mm long, narrowly triangular, acute.

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit

An erect terrestrial herb up to 2 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers greenish white in lax racemes

Ecology

In grassland and among rocks.