Habenaria lelyi Summerh. 1932 SECTION Diphyllae
TYPE Drawing by © Lely and The Kew Royal Botanic Garden WebSite
Common Name Lely's Habenaria [Original Collector of Species current]
Flower Size
Found in Guinea, Nigeria and the Central African Republic at elevations around 1300 to 1400 meters as a medium sized, cool growing terrestrial with a single, radical, sub-orbicular, sub-fleshy, adpressed to the ground leaf that blooms in the summer on an erect, terminal, to 14.4" [to 36 cm] long, to 9 flowered inflorescence with a 4" [10 cm] rachis and lanceolate, acuminate floral bracts.
"This species belongs apparently to a small group in sect. Diphyllae possessing simple petals. Nine other species have been described but it is doubtful if they are all distinct. H. Lelyi is apparently rather isolated in this group, the free petals being a distinctive character. In addition it differs from all the other species in having the middle lobe of the lip wider than the lateral lobes." Summerhayes 1932
Synonyms Habenaria lelyi var. macroceras Summerh. 1938
References W3 Tropicos,Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;