Habenaria modesta Dalzell
In Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 2: 262 (1850)
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Habenaria ovalifolia Wight in Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5: t. 1708 (1851)
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Habenaria platantheropsis Kraenzl. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 172 (1900)
This species is endemic to western ghats
Ecology: Terrestrial herb 20 -90cm tall, growing on humus rich soil in dense undergrowth in evergreen forest
Tuber 1-2, 2.5x1.5cm, irregularly ellipsoidal
Leaves 4-6, pentstichously clustered below the middle of the stem
5-18x1.5-7cm oblong,oblanceolate entire, glabrous , acute, entire or slightly crimped
Inflorescence 18-40cm long many flowered, lax,raceme
Peduncle 6-20cm, green terete, bracteate,
Bracts 2.4-4x0.7-1cm, lower ones larger all ovate lanceolate, acute or subacuminate
Flowers: Pale green, bracteate, shortly pedicellate.
Bracts 10-13x4mm, subconcave, at the base similar to those on peduncle, shorter than or equalling ovary
Sepals sub equal, pale green obtuse,entire, sparsely gland dotted
Dorsal sepal 5x3mm concave deeper coloured than lateral sepals &
petals, ovate Lateral sepals 5x2.5mm, spreading, sub concave obliquely ovate, subfalcate
Petals 5x3mm, pale green, erect connivant at their apices with dorsal sepal and inflexed midlobe of lip, obliquely- ovate, obtuse 1 nerved
Labellum: 7x12mm more or less triangular in outline, fleshy, green, 3lobed. Lateral lobes 6x2mm straight, spreading , narrowly linear- lanceolate, tapering to acute apex. Right angle to mid lobe
Mid lobe 5x2mm ovate-oblong, faintly 3 nerved, longitudinally grooved on upper surface, inflexed upward, truncate, subretuse, apex firmly attached to the apices of dorsal sepal & petals enclosing column
Spur 16mm long pale green, longer than ovary, straight, thin, broadening into funnel shaped mouth& somewhat dilated, flattened at the acute apex
Column 3x3mm, pale green, enclosed completely by dorsal sepal at the back, petals from the sides & incompletely by mid lobe of labellum in front Anther cell short, slightly diverging, whitish
Pollinia about 1mm, obovoid, 2 partite, caudicle 1mm, thin, viscidium small, oblong lanceolate
Stigmatic processes 2 elliptic, clavate, rounded, green
Rostellum prominent, green, three lobed
Ovary with peicel14mm long, curved, strongly ribbed
Capsule:15x3-4mm, broadly fusiform, strongly ribbed, beak minute
Flowering: August
Fruiting: September onwards
Ovary with peicel14mm long, curved, strongly ribbed
Capsule:15x3-4mm, broadly fusiform, strongly ribbed, beak minute
Flowering: August
Fruiting: September onwards