Habenaria filicornis

Habenaria filicornis is a slender terrestrial orchid reaching heights from 20 cm to 65 cm. The thickish, slightly curved ovaries also serving as flower stalks present the flower centres away from the inflorescence stem in the photo.

The specific name, filicornis is derived from the Latin words filum (thread) and cornis (horned), referring to the appearance of the lip. One of the earlier botanical names of the species is H. natalensis. H. chlorotica is another. A common name found in the literature, viz. thread-shaped flower spur habenaria is a bit of a mouthful.

The species distribution is widespread in north-eastern South Africa and tropical Africa, as widespread as Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. The plant grows in dry and moist grassland in shallow gravelly soils, at elevations from 1150 m to 2300 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (www.zimbabweflora.co.zw; www.orchidspecies.com; www.redlist.sanbi.org).