Huttonaea grandiflora

Huttonaea grandiflora is a slender perennial herb, a terrestrial orchid reaching heights to 25 cm. The plant bears two stalkless, ovate to cordate (heart-shaped) stem leaves with pointed tips. Leaves are hairless, becoming nearly 5 cm long.

The species distribution is mainly in southwestern KwaZulu-Natal, but also across the borders into Lesotho, the Free State and the northerly mountains of the Eastern Cape.

The habitat is moist grassland on steep slopes and in rocky crevices. The plants are typically in shade, at elevations from 1800 m to 2500 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Pooley, 1998; www.africanorchids.dk; www.redlist.sanbi.org).