Habenaria pubidens P.J.Cribb

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Picture: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

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Synonyms:	Habenaria sp. (Williamson & Odgers 280) of Williamson, Orch. S. Centr. Africa: 46 (1977).
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb up to 80 cm high, growing from more or less globose tubers. Leaves along the stem, 8–12, basal 4 or 5 sheath-like, the lowermost foliage leaf about one third up the stem; upper leaves bract-like, middle ones spreading, oblanceolate or elliptic, 8–15 cm long, reticulate venation distinct; margin often undulate, clasping the stem at the base. Inflorescence 11–27 cm long, laxly 10–25-flowered; bracts lanceolate, c. 10 mm long. Flowers green. Ovary and pedicel c. 15 mm long, arched. Dorsal sepal ovate, erect, 4–6 mm long; lateral sepals elliptic, 6–7 mm long, deflexed. Petals 2-lobed more or less to the base; upper lobe linear, 5–6 mm long, erect, adnate to dorsal sepal; lower lobes 6–7 mm long, spreading and curving up. Lip 3-lobed more or less to the base; mid-lobe 5–8 mm long, deflexed; side lobes 4–7 mm long, parallel to lower petal lobes; spur 15–20 mm long with a hairy tooth in the mouth; slightly swollen in apical half, curved up and projecting above the flower.
Type location:	Zambia, Nyika Plateau
Notes:	This species is generally similar to the widespread H. malacophylla, but can be distinguished by the up-curved spur with a pubescent tooth in the mouth.
Derivation of specific name:	pubidens: with a pubescent tooth (in the mouth of the spur).
Habitat:	Shaded forest floors.
Altitude range:	1700 - 2250 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Only known from Misuku Hills and Nyika Plateau, Malawi and Zambia.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	E
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Mc
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:	Near Endemic
Red data list status:	Vulnerable
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 20 March 2019
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 328. (Includes a picture). Cribb, P.J. (1977). New orchids from South Central Africa Kew Bulletin 32(1) Pages 146 - 147. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 84. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 65. (Includes a picture). 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. Page 46. As Habenaria sp. (Includes a picture). Willis, C.K., Burrows, J.E., Fish, L., Phiri, P.S.M., Chikuni, A.C. & Golding, J. (2001). Developing a greater understanding of the flora of the Nyika Syst. Geogr. Pl. 71(2) Page 1000.

Other sources of information about Habenaria pubidens:

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Flora of Malawi: Habenaria pubidens

External websites:

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