Habenaria transvaalensis

Habenaria transvaalensis is a slender, medium sized terrestrial orchid. The ovoid, hairy tuber grows stolons and more tubers at the stolon tips, unusual for plants of the Habenaria genus. 

This Habenaria was considered to be a Bonatea in its history of being studied by botanists. It was named Bonatea bracteata and B. liparophylla at different times.

The species distribution in South Africa lies in the northeast, in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The plant also grows in Lesotho and Swaziland.

The habitat is mountainous grassy slopes and forest shade, forest margins and thickets in moist spots at altitudes ranging between 600 m and 1800 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (www.africanorchids.dk; www.orchidspecies.com; www.redlist.sanbi.org).