Habenaria laevigata Lindl., Ann. Nat. Hist. 4: 315 (1840).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Habenaria ornithopoda Rchb.f., Linnaea 20: 696 (1847).
Description:
A glabrous erect herb, 25- 45 cm high; stem straight leafy; leaves 4-5, subdistant erect linear-lanceolate acuminate, 5-10 cm. long, passing into bracts ; spikes cylindrical many-fl., bracts leaflike ovate acuminate keeled, exceeding the flowers; side sepals deflexed lanceolate acuminate; odd sepal ovate-oblong vaulted, 6-mm, long; petals undivided, obliquely ovate, adhering to the odd sepal; lip spreading 3-lobed somewhat fleshy, side lobes linear deflexed, the middle lobe ascending, wider and longer, spur filiform slender pendulous, much longer than the ovary (2,5-3 cm. long); clinandrium very obtuse; anther-cells somewhat divaricate; rostellum tricuspidate, the caudicle-bearing arms very short; stigmatiferous processes very short very obtuse incurved.
Habitat:
In well drained montane grasslands at elevations of 700 to 2200 meters.
Notes:
Colour of the flowers green, the odd sepal and lip darker.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
S. Africa
References:
Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008; The Cape Orchids Vol 1 Liltved & Johnson 2012
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph copyright Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission	Photograph copyright Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission	Photograph copyright Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission	Photograph copyright Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission