Habenaria suaveolens Dalzell
In Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 2: 263 (1850)
Pecteilis suaveolens (Dalzell) M.A. Clem. & D.L. Jones in Austral.
Orchid Rev. 83(6): 53 (2018) Plantaginorchis suaveolens (Dalzell) Szlach. & Kras-Lap. in Richardiana 6: 32 (2006)
Habenaria panchganiensis Santapau & Kapadia in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 54: 478 (1957)
Habenaria variabilis Blatt. & McCann in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36: 19 (1932), nom. illeg.
This species is Endemic to western ghats
Ecology: Terrestrial herb 15-20cm tall, growing in open grass lands on laterite soil in semi evergreen forest
Tubers 1 or 2, 1.8x0.8 cm ellipsoidal
Leaves: 3-5, Radical or sub radical.alternate distichously clustred at the base sub- conduplicate to conduplicate 8x3cm, oblong entire acute minutely papillate
Inflorescence: several flowered, secund or sub secund dense raceme
Peduncle 6-10cm long, about 1-2mm in diameter, rigid terete, bracteate, longitudinally ribbed,
Bracts: 1-2rarely several
Flowers: white faintly fragrant pedicellate bracteate
Bract 1.5x0.8mmamplexicaul, oblong-ovate, acuminate
Sepals unequal white acute 3 nerved
Lateral sepal 8x3mm obliquely ovate- laceolate, subfalcate, spreading, slightly decurved downwards
Dorsal sepal 12x8mm ovate concave
Petals 10x5mm white, 3 nerved, obliquely ovate, basal half broader gradually tapering to acute apex
Labellum: 17x 14mm, white 3 lobed, broadly ovate in outline
Lateral lobes 6-9mm, broad cuneate-oblong, truncate entire or crenulate, faintly 5 – 7 nerved
Mid lobe 8-10mm long 1.5mm broad longer than lateral lobes narrowly lanceolate, subacute, entire 5 nerved
Spur: 10mm long 1.5mm in diameter, upto ¾ th length of ovary, straight, yellowish white, slightly green at the tip, sub clavate at rounded apex
Column: 4-5x2mm, yellowish green, oblong , curved behind, straight in front, apiculate at the top , with central longitudinal groove running all along the back
Anther cell short,
pollinia 2-2.5 mm long oblong sub obliquecaudicle slightly shoter viscidium large
Stigmatic processes shoert yellowish green
Ovary 15mm long,narrowly oblong, curved strongly 6 ribbed
Capsule 2.5 cmx 5mm, spindle shaped beaked strongly 6 ribbed
Flowering: August
Fruiting: September