Habenaria medusa Kraenzl. 1892 SECTION Medusaeformes TYPE for the section
Photos by © Jay Pfahl
Photo by Takato NATSU from Japan and his Japan Orchids Page
Common Name The Medusa-Like Habenaria [refers to the side lobes of the lip]
Flower Size 3 1/2" [9 cm]
Found in China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra in grasslands at elevations around 400 to 800 meters as a medium sized [in flower], hot to warm growing terrestrial with 4 to 5, lanceolate, acute, subcordate basally leaves that blooms in the spring and summer on a terminal, to 16" [40 cm] long, many flowered inflorescence.
This species needs a long dry winter rest from leaf fall [in September] to the arrival of new growth [in March]. With the new growths arrival it is time to water and fertilize regularly until it blooms from June to August.
CAUTION I have included M myriotricha as a synonym here because I have not been able to find any difference between the 2 species, but Kew does not agree.
Synonyms Fimbrorchis medusa (Kraenzl.) Szlach.2004; Fimbrorchis myriotricha (Gagnep.) Szlach. 2004; Fimbrorchis myriotricha var. confluens (Gagnep.) Szlach 2004; Habenaria myriotricha Gagnep. 1931; Habenaria myriotricha var. confluens Gagnep.1934
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Xenia Orchidaceae Vol 3 Reichenbach 1896 drawing fide; Die Orchideen Von Java J.J.Smith 1905; Die Orchideen Von Java Figuren Atlas J.J.Smith 1908 drawing fide; Orchidaceae Of German New Guinea Schlechter 1912/85; Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 3, 10: 5 J J Smith 1928; Flore Generale de Indo-Chine Volume 6 Gagnepain 1934 as Habenaria myriotricha; Bulletin du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle % No 71 Seidenfaden 1972 drawing fide; Tidsskrift bd 68 hft 1 Contributions to the Orchid Flora of Thailand V Seidedenfaden 1973 drawing fide; Die Orchideen 3 Auflage Bd 1 Sonderabdruck aus Schlechter Lieferung 5 257- 320 Brieger, Maatsch and Senghas 1974 photo fide; Contributions to a Revision of the Orchid Flora of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam Seidenfaden 1975; Die Orchideen Band 3 Sonderabdruck aus Schlechter Brieger, Maatsch and Senghas 1973 photo fide; Orchids of Java Comber 1990; The Manual Of Cultivated Orchid Species Bechtel, Launert & Cribb 1992; A Checklist of the Orchids of Borneo Wood & Cribb 1994; Identification of the Orchids [Orchidaceae Juss.] Vietnam Averyanov 1994 as H myriotricha; Lindleyana Vol 17 No 1 2002; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 1 2004 as H myriotricha photo fide; A field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Thailand Vaddhanaphuti 2005 as H myriotricha photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 78 No 2 2009 photo fide; Mille et Une Mini Orchideees Roguenant 2009 photo fide; Flora Of Thailand Orchidaceae Vol 12 Part 1 Pedersen, Kurzweil, Suddee & Cribb 2011 as H myriotricha drawing/photo fide; A to Z of South East Asian Orchid Species Vol 2 O'Byrne 2011 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 81 #12 2012 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 82 #12 2013 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 78 #4 2014 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #1 2016 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #7 2016 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #10 2016 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 #7 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 #8 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 #9 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 87 #10 2018 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #11 2019 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 89 #1 2020 photo fide; Atlas of Native Orchids of China Vol 1 Jin Xiaohua, Li Jianwu and Ye Deping 2019 photo fide;
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