Habenaria nyikana Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 100 (1881).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Bilabrella nyikana (Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Kras-Lap., Richardiana 3: 141 (2003).
Description:
A terrestrial herb 4-11 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots and petals. Tubers ellipsoid, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, ± 1 cm. in diameter, densely tomentose. Stem erect, stout, leafy throughout its length. Leaves 10-20, the lowermost sometimes reduced to a sheath, lower 6-10 suberect, or less frequently spreading, linear or lanceolate-linear, acute, the largest 13-35 cm. long, 1-2 cm. broad, the upper ones smaller, closely adpressed to the stem and often overlapping, lanceolate, acuminate, Inflorescence 10-35 cm. long, 5-6 cm. in diameter, loosely or rather densely 8- to many-flowered. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, thin and scarious, denticulate, 1.5-3 cm. long, the lower ones often equalling the pedicel with ovary. Flowers half-spreading, green with pale or white centre; pedicel with ovary nearly straight or somewhat curved, 2-3 cm. long. Dorsal sepal reflexed, narrowly elliptical, obtuse, convex, 6-7.5 mm. long, ± 3 mm. broad; laterals deflexed, obliquely obcordate with marked lateral apiculum, 8.5-10.5 mm. long, 5-7 mm. broad. Petals bipartite nearly to the base; posterior (upper) lobe recurved, linear, obtuse, 5.5-7.5mm. long, scarcely I mm. broad, ciliolate; anterior lobe spreading forwards, elongate-lanceolate, acute, 9.5-13.5 mm. long, ± 2 mm. broad, glabrous or ciliolate and pubescent. Lip spreading downwards, tripartite nearly to the base; middle lobe ± incurved, linear, obtuse, 11-15 mm. long; side lobes lanceolate-linear, ± acute, 10-12.5 mm. long; all lobes scarcely I mm. broad; spur ± parallel to the ovary or incurved, swollen in apical half, 1.5-3 cm. long. Anther 2.5-4 mm. high, canals slender, ± incurved, 3.5-6.5 mm. long; stigmas porrect, terete with swollen truncate apex, 4.5-6 mm. long, rostellum triangular-linear, acute, nearly 3 mm. long.
Derivation of specific name:
Named after Nyika Island, a small island in the Zambesi Delta in Mozambique, where the type was collected. (Note: not the Nyika Plateau in Malawi).
Habitat:
In South Africa, this terrestrial orchid is found in Natal and eastern Transvaal. Throughout the range, plants grow in grassland at 1000-4250 ft. (300-1300 m).
Cultivation:
Read more of cultivation of Habenaria nyikana Rchb.f.
Distribution:
W. Tanzania to S. Africa
References:
Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol 7, page 12, (1898) Author: (By R. A. Rolfe.); La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam; La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1); Flora of Tropical East Africa Summerhayes Orchidaceae Part 1 1968
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.