Habenaria

Habenaria
Habenaria marginata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Orchidoideae
Tribe:	Orchideae
Subtribe:	Orchidinae
Genus:	Habenaria Willd.
Species
Over 800, see text

Habenaria roxburghii flowers at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Habenaria roxburghii leaves at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Habenaria, commonly called bog orchids, are a far ranging genus of orchid. There are approximately 800-1000 species of Habenaria, native to every continent except Antarctica, in both tropical and temperate zones.

Description

Habenaria species have small to large underground root tubers and erect stems 20 to 80 cm (8 to 31 in) in length. Leaves are lanceolate or ovate, and are borne either along the stem (cauline) or only at the base (basal). When basal, leaves lie flat on the ground. Flowers are mostly green, white, yellow and green, or white and green, but a few exceptions have brilliant red flowers. The column is frequently complicated, with long organs sticking out of it (stigma processes, lateral rostellum arms, anther canals). The plant is a perennial deciduous, with the entire above-ground part of the plant dying back each year.

Cultivation

Habenaria are rarely found in collections of living plants.

Plants are best grown in deep pots (e.g. 20 cm depth, place tubers at 10 cm depth) in a well drained medium consisting of 50% river sand, 40% leaf mulch and 10% vermiculite. Plants are best grown in a temperate environment with 50-70% shading and excellent ventilation.

Regular watering should be given during the growth season, from spring to autumn. As soon as autumn cooling sets in reduce watering to once every two weeks. During cold winter months do not water. It is, however, vital to watch that the medium does not dehydrate completely. To prevent this drench the pot occasionally and allow to dry. Do not keep the medium damp. Only after new shoots emerge at the end of winter commence with watering once every two weeks for the spring season and once or twice a week as required for the summer season.

A slow release fertilizer can be applied during spring. Aphids can be a problem and should be watched for and eliminated.

Selected species

Habenaria susanne
syn. of Pecteilis susannae

Habenaria alata Hook. – Winged Bog Orchid Habenaria amalfitana Lehmann & Kränzlin – Guadeloupe Bog Orchid Habenaria arenaria – Dune Orchid Habenaria clavata Habenaria crinifera Lindl – Doll Orchid Habenaria dentata (Sw.) Schltr. Habenaria digitata Habenaria distans Griseb. – Hammock Bog Orchid Habenaria dives Habenaria dregeana Habenaria epipactidea Habenaria eustachya Rchb.f – Woodland Bog Orchid Habenaria falcicornis Habenaria floribunda Lindl. Habenaria laevigata

Habenaria lithophila Habenaria macroceratitis Habenaria malacophylla Habenaria marginata – Rein Orchid Habenaria medusa Kraenzl. Habenaria monorrhiza (Sw.) Rchb.f – Tropical Bog Orchid Habenaria mossii (G.Will.) J.C.Manning Habenaria odontopetala Rchb.f – Toothpetal Bog Orchid Habenaria plantaginea Lindl. Habenaria quinqueseta (Michx.) Eat. – Longhorn Bog Orchid Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) Spreng. Habenaria repens Nutt. – Waterspider Bog Orchid Habenaria rhodocheila Hance Habenaria schimperiana Habenaria strictissima Rchb.f

Formerly placed here

Dactylorhiza viridis (L.) R.M.Bateman et al. (as H. viridis (L.) R.Br.) Platanthera ciliaris (L.) Lindl. (as H. ciliaris (L.) R.Br.) Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. ex L.C.Beck (as H. dilatata (Pursh) Hook.)

Platanthera hyperborea (L.) Lindl. (as H. hyperborea (L.) R.Br.) Platanthera psycodes (L.) Lindl. (as H. psycodes (L.) Spreng.) Platanthera stricta Lindl. (as H. saccata Greene)

External links

• Media related to Habenaria at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Habenaria at Wikispecies
• Article on Habenaria at South Africa National Biodiversity Institute