Habenaria galactantha Kraenzl.

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Picture: Bart Wursten
By entrance road to Southern Cross Farm, Chegutu

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Synonyms:	Arachnaria galactantha (Kraenzl.) Szlach.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb 45–80 cm tall, growing from more or less globose to ovoid tubers, up to 2.5 cm long. Basal leaves 2, appressed to the ground, broadly ovate to orbicular, 4–8 cm long; stem leaves c. 6, sheath-like, up to 5.5 cm long. Inflorescence 9–18 cm long, rather laxly 5–13-flowered; bracts 12–25 mm long. Sepals greenish-white, papillose or pubescent on outside, petals and lip white. Dorsal sepal ovate, convex, erect, 6-9 mm long; lateral sepals deflexed, obliquely semi-ovate, 8-11 mm long. Petals 2-lobed almost to base; upper lobe curved lanceolate, 5.5–9.5 mm long, lying inside dorsal sepal; lower lobe deflexed, oblanceolate, 6.5–12 mm long. Lip 3-lobed with lobes oblanceolate; mid-lobe 7–13 mm long; side lobes 5.5–12 mm long, slightly incurved; spur 3–11.5 cm long, slender but swollen at apex.
Type location:	Tanzania
Notes:	The differences between this species and H. macrura are small and somewhat confusing. The spur in H. macrura is said to be 9-20 cm long but for this species the spur in some literature is said to be only 4 cm but in FZ is said to be 3-11 cm, which somewhat overlaps with that of H. macrura. Measurements of other floral parts also overlap but overall the flowers in this species are somewhat smaller than those of H. macrura.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In Brachystegia woodland.
Altitude range:	700 - 1500 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	DRC, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	N,W
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Nw,N
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:	Tuesday 9 March 2021
Literature:	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 83. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 135. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 91. (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. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 64 - 67. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Burundi: Habenaria galactantha
Flora of Malawi: Habenaria galactantha
Flora of Zimbabwe: Habenaria galactantha

External websites:

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