Habenaria tentaculigera Rchb.f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 20–60 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tubers 1.5–5 × 1–2 cm, ovoid or ellipsoid, woolly.

Morphology Stem

Stem leafy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–11, the lowermost 1–2 sheathing; the next few suberect or spreading, 3–8 × 1.5–3 cm, lanceolate, acute; the upper ones grading into the bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 5–26 × 5–6 cm, laxly 3–17-flowered; bracts 10–30 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers green or yellow-green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 15–30 mm long, ± straight.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 16–20 × 15 mm, ovate, very convex, curving forwards, the tip recurved; lateral sepals projecting forwards, 12–15 × 3–6 mm, obliquely lanceolate, adnate to column and base of spur for about half their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals erect, 2-lobed, with an undivided basal part c. 10 mmlong; posterior lobe 7–8.5 × c. 3 mm, lanceolate, the margins ciliate, adnate to dorsal sepal; anterior lobe 20–33 × 1 mm, linear, fleshy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 3-lobed, the base adnate to the column for 6–9 mm, the free part deflexed, 3-lobed with an undivided part 3–4 mm long; mid-lobe ± reflexed, 7–9 × 1–2 mm, linear, fleshy; side lobes 14–22 × 1 mm, linear, curving forwards; spur 20–22 mm long, bent forwards with a knee-like bend just below the base, then recurved, the apex swollen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther loculi c. 3 mm high, reclinate, joined by a U-shaped connective c. 4 mm high and 14–16 mm long; canals c. 3 mm long, porrect, then upcurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic arms 4–5 mm long, clavate, decurved.