Habenaria tysonii flower

The Habenaria tysonii flower is pale green with suggestions of creamy yellow; a fleshy translucence faint upon some of its surfaces.

The dorsal sepal is erect, shallowly helmet-shaped and acutely pointed at its tip. The lateral sepals are not conspicuous in the frontal flower view, being reflexed and curving back.

The lateral petals have two small upper lobes adhering to the dorsal sepal flanks and two large lower ones, spreading and curving to the sides above the lateral lip lobes. The three-lobed lip is hairy as are the lateral petal lobes in picture.

The spur at the back of the lip is up to 1,4 cm long, inflated at its tip creating a club-shape. The tiny stigmas, 2 mm long, are club-shaped and oblong (Pooley, 1998; www.africanorchids.dk).