Habenaria macroplectron Schltr. 1903 SECTION Macrurae Kraenzl. Photo by © N Wightman and The Flora of Zambia WebSite

Collection sheet and Drawing Collection sheet by © Baum and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria WebSite

Common Name The Very Large Spur Habenaria

Flower Size

Found in Zaire, Angola and Zambia in marshy grasslands at elevations around 1150 to 1360 meters as a small to large sized, cool growing terrestrial with globose tubers giving rise to an erect stem carrying 8 to 10, the lowermost 2, funnel-shaped sheaths, the next few, semi-spreading, the largest, lanceolate, pale green, rather fleshy, looosely funnel-shaped below leaves that blooms in the summer on a terminal, erect, to 4.8" [12 cm] long, fairly densely 5 to 10 flowered inflorescence with leafy, fairly transparent pillose haired bracts.

Tubers of this species are used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda which has caused wild populations to be threatened by over-harvesting.

Synonyms Macrura macroplectron (Schltr.) Szlach. & Sawicka 2003

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchids of South Central Africa Williamson 1977 drawing fide; Flore D'Afrique Centrale [Zaire- Rwands - Burundi] Orhidaceae Premeir parte Geerink 1984; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Orchidaceae Part 1 Pope 1995; Orchidaceae of West Central Africa Vol 1 Szlatchecko etal 2010 as Macrura macroplectron drawing fide

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