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Habenaria marginata Colebr.

In W.J.Hooker, Exot. Fl.: t. 136 (1824)

  • Pecteilis marginata (Colebr.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones in Austral. Orchid Rev. 83(6): 52 (2018)

  • Habenaria aurantiaca Rolfe ex Downie in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1925: 418 (1925)

  • Habenaria flavescens Hook.f. in Fl. Brit. India 6: 150 (1890)

  • Habenaria fusifera Hook.f. in Fl. Brit. India 6: 147 (1890)

  • Habenaria marginata var. flavescens (Hook.f.) T.Cooke in Fl. Bombay 2: 721 (1907)

  • Habenaria promensis Lindl. in Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 320 (1835)

  • Orchis clavata B.Heyne ex Hook.f. in Fl. Brit. India 6: 150 (1890)

  • Platanthera marginata Lindl. ex Wall. in Numer. List: n.° 7038 (1832), nom. nud.

Ecology: Terrestrial herb 10- 60cm tall, growing on wet soil among small grasses in semi evergreen forest  

Tubers 1 or 2 ellipsoidal, 3-4x2.5 cm 

Leaves: 2-5 Pentastichously arranged at the base passing into bracts on peduncle above, radical or sub radicle, somewhat fleshy 9x3cm oblong, oblong elliptic, acute obtuse or mucronulate, margins typically whitish-yellow 

Inflorescence:  10-40cm, spicate laxly or densely many flowered.
Peduncle green, terete, bracteate 
Bracts 3x1cm laxly arranged, semi amplexicaul, lanceolate, acute 1 nerved margin whitish yellow


Flowers green-yellow sessile, bracteate,

Bract 1-2x0-5cm lower ones are longer than ovary while upper bracts are shorter than ovary

Sepals: unequal, pale green, acute faintly 5-nerved
Dorsal sepal 8x6mm, cocave broadly ovate, sub orbicular, subcordate at the base
Lateral sepal 7x3mm drooping obliquely-oblanceolate

Petals: 7x4mm, yellow with green tinged on part overlapped by dorsal sepal, oblong-lanceolate, from a broad base, faintly 3 nerved, acute or sub obtuse 
Lip 11mm long, yellow, fleshy, tri partite beyond 1-2x1-2mm claw,
Lateral lobes 11x1.5mm more or less spreading, straight, with small inward hook shaped curve at the acute apex, linear lanceolate
Midlobe clavate towards the rounded apex

Spur about 10cm long, more or less equalling ovary, rarely shorter or longer, yellowish-green broad at the mouth, constricted at the middle and dilating clavate at the apex, laterally compressed, dark green towards obtuse apex 

Column: short broad 3x3mm green-white 
Anther cell short, yellowish brown, pollinia 1x1mm, ovoid, deep cadmium yellow with curved caudicle &small oblong viscidium Staminode 2mm long, white, erect, placed right angles to anther cell
Stigmatic processes pale green, sub clavate, parallel and adnate to lip
Rostellum 3 lobed middle lobe band shaped lateral ones sub retuse, forming inner arm of caudicle channel

Ovary: 12x3mm curved,, ribbed beak short  Capsule:
Flowering: August – September

Fruiting: October

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