Habenaria is a large genus of more than 800 species in the Orchidaceae family distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Plants are variable. Species have small to large underground root tubers, are deciduous, and have erect stems 20 to 80 cm. Some have two flat leaves and others have many leaves along the stem. The small to medium flowers are normally green, yellow, and/or white. Species in this genus are sometimes referred to as Ghost Orchids because of their light color. The median sepal is joined with the upper lobes of petals forming a hood. The distinguishing feature of this genus is the receptive surface of the stigmas produced on two projecting club-shaped organs.
There are 35 species in southern Africa, mostly confined to summer rainfall areas where plants grow singly or in small groups in forest, savanna, dune scrub, marsh or grassland. The species of this genus flower mainly in summer and often emit a sweet scent in the evening to attract moths which act as pollinators. More information on the southern Africa species including cultivation information can be found here.
Habenaria brachyphylla {Lindl.) Aitch., syn. Habenaria crassiflora A.Rich., is found on rocky or grassy slopes in parts of western India (especially in Maharashtra) at mid elevations around 900–1200 m. It exhibits thick, fleshy leaves alongside a modest raceme of white flowers. Height range: 20-50 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria digitata Lindl. is a terrestrial, tuberous orchid characterized by greenish-white, intricately lobed flowers and a robust, leafy stem. It typically occupies moist, subtropical to tropical habitats across the Indian subcontinent. Height range: 20-60 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria dives Rchb.f. is found in well drained grassland up to 2600 m from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga and including Lesotho and Swaziland. Growing to 60 cm, it has small white green flowers with green-veined sepals and a 3-lobed lip with the white lateral petals divided into narrow upper parts with tips pointing upwards, while the shorter lower parts taper and curve outwards, spreading sideways. It has stiff stem clasping leaves with prominent veins up to 24 x 20 cm with the acutely pointed leaf tips angling outwards. The spur is short, tapered from a wide mouth. The stigma has two short, chunky and shiny projecting arms, dull green in the center. It flowers December to March. Known as the Death Orchid; ground and dried tubers are used as an evil charm. Photos were taken by Cameron McMaster in Maclear and Ugie.
Habenaria epipactidea Rchb.f. is found in sunny grassland and savanna. It has a wide distribution over a number of countries in Africa. It grows from 22 to 35 (58) cm tall and has white to greenish-yellow or yellow flowers. Photos were taken in Lesotho by Cameron McMaster.
Habenaria falcicornis (Lindl.) Bolus is found in marshy grassland up to 2600 m from the Western Cape to Zimbabwe. It grows from 22 to 80 cm with leaves from 8 to 18 cm x 2 cm, grey green, sheathing a pale yellow stem. The lateral petals are two-lobed, the upper lobes pointing upwards, the larger lower ones spreading to the sides. The lip below is three-lobed, the lobes narrowly oblong, white at their bases, green at their tips. This species resembles Habenaria dives, but the inflorescence is looser and the spur is longer. It flowers November to March. The first three photos were taken in Maclear and the next two in Lesotho by Cameron McMaster.
Habenaria grandifloriformis Blatt. & McCann is native to the tropical Indian subcontinent. It is commonly recorded from the Western Ghats (including states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, etc.) This striking ground orchid bears broad, showy white flowers arranged in terminal racemes and grows on open scrub and grassland habitats. The species is currently assessed as Near Threatened. Height range: 10-30 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria heyneana Lindl., a delicate terrestrial orchid with a slender, leafy stem and finely lobed white flowers, thrives in seasonally dry, sunny sites such as hill slopes and open forest margins. Its distribution is largely confined to southwestern India, particularly within the Western Ghats, where it produces mass flowering displays. Height range: 8-40 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria laevigata Lindl. is a tuberous orchid found on stony grassland from 700 to 2000 m in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It grows to 40 cm and has leaves that clasp the stem and green scented flowers in a dense inflorescence. It blooms late spring into summer. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster, Bob Rutemoeller, and Mary Sue Ittner January 2010 at Maclear and Naude's Nek.
Habenaria lithophila Schltr. is a tuberous orchid growing to 30 cm. found on stony grassland up to 2500 m. from the Western Cape of South Africa to Tanzania. It has green to yellowish green flowers. The lower petal lobes are long and very slender. It blooms late spring into summer. The first two photos were taken January 2010 at Naude's Nek and the next two in Lesotho by Cameron McMaster.
Habenaria longicorniculata J.Graham is notable for its tall, erect habit and a long (~14 cm) spur that accentuates its elegant white flowers. This tuberous orchid grows along moist forest edges and in open grasslands. It occurs primarily in southwestern India with isolated records from central and north India. Regional assessments have indicated a vulnerable status owing to its fragmented distribution. Height range: 30-80 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria medusa Kraenzl. is sometimes wrongly written as Habenaria medusae. It is native to southeast Asia. The inflorescence reaches about 18 inches (40 cm) in height and the flowers are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) across. It is not an easy species to cultivate and requires very good orchid conditions with a lot of moisture and air movement. After flowering, it enters a dormant stage, where the tubers must remain in a state between moist and dry. When new shoots appear, increase watering to keep the medium just moist until vigorous growth commences. Photos 1-3 were taken September 2009 by Eugene Zielinski of a cultivated plant (bought as H. myriotricha). The other flower in the first picture is Pecteilis sagarikii. Photo 4 was taken by Nhu Nguyen.
Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) Spreng. is a synonym for Pecteilis radiata (Thunb.) Raf.
Habenaria rariflora A.Rich. is endemic to parts of the Western Ghats, India. It is a rare component in its habitat and has been reported as endangered on a regional scale. This small, compact terrestrial herb bears a sparse raceme of white flowers and narrow, linear leaves. It is adapted to well-drained, rocky soils. Height range: 15-25 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria rhodocheila Hance is native to a broad geographic range from southern China to Malaysia and the Philippines. There are several color forms. After flowering, it enters a dormant stage, where the tubers must remain in a state between moist and dry. When new shoots appear, increase watering to keep the medium just moist until vigorous growth commences. Height range: 30-60 cm. Photos 1-5 were taken by Nhu Nguyen. Photo 4 shows the side view that includes the stigmatic surface. Photo 6 shows a pollinium.
Habenaria suaveolens Dalzell. now includes Habenaria panchganiensis Santapau & Kapadia. It is a tuberous, ground-dwelling orchid distinguished by its entire, lanceolate petals and a relatively short spur. It flowers on high-altitude plateaux and hilltops with open, moist soils. Endemic to the Western Ghats crestline of Maharashtra, its restricted and patchy distribution has led to its status as endangered. This description is for what was previously known as H. panchganiensis. Height range: 8-27 cm. Photo from Saket Shrotri.
Habenaria tysonii Bolus is found on exposed sunny, rocky grassland from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga and as far as Zambia. Growing from 16 to 36 cm, it has two round to kidney shaped, somewhat succulent basal leaves that are flat on the ground and green flowers. It flowers December through February. Photos taken at Aurora Peak, Maclear, by Cameron McMaster.
