Habenaria armatissima Rchb. f.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Vunduzi River on opposite bank of Bunga Inselberg, northwestern Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb up to 80 cm tall, growing from an ovoid or ellipsoid tuber up to 5 cm long. Basal leaves 2, appressed to the ground, ovate to reniform, 12–18 long and up to 25 cm wide, cordate at base, rather fleshy; stem-leaves c. 3 cm long. Inflorescence densely 10- to many-flowered, 16–30 cm long; bracts 15–30 mm long. Flowers white, more or less spreading. Pedicel 15–20 mm long, ovary arched, 30–35 mm long. Dorsal sepal erect, ovate, 11–16 mm long, convex, sometimes slightly reflexed at the tip; lateral sepals reflexed, obliquely ovate, 13–17 mm long. Petals 2-lobed more or less to base, both lobes filiform, less than 1 mm wide at base; posterior lobe 11–14 mm long, lying against the dorsal sepal; anterior lobe 30–40 mm long, deflexed or spreading. Lip 3-lobed with a basal, undivided part 2–3 mm long; mid-lobe linear, 15–20 mm long, less than 1 mm wide; side lobes filiform, 30–45 mm long; all pendent; spur 8.5–21.5 cm long, slender.
Notes:	The specimen in the photographs appears to be the first record for Mozambique. This species is easily confused with the similar Habenaria subarmata. That species is generally slightly smaller with a shorter spur (up to 7.5 cm).
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Grassland, and deciduous woodland, often on termite mounds.
Altitude range:	77 - 1200 m
Flowering time:	Feb - Apr (May)
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa and South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	MS
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 24 May 2015
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 29. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 63. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 181. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 82. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 132 - 133. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 90. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 96. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 121. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Pages 130 - 131. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 66.

Other sources of information about Habenaria armatissima:

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Flora of Malawi: Habenaria armatissima
Flora of Zambia: Habenaria armatissima
Flora of Zimbabwe: Habenaria armatissima

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Habenaria armatissima
African Plant Database: Habenaria armatissima
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Habenaria armatissima
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Habenaria armatissima
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Habenaria armatissima
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Habenaria armatissima
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Habenaria armatissima
JSTOR Plant Science: Habenaria armatissima
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Habenaria armatissima
Plants of the World Online: Habenaria armatissima
Tropicos: Habenaria armatissima
Wikipedia: Habenaria armatissima