Habenaria clavata petal lobes raised

The green petal arms of Habenaria clavata, the lower lobes of the forked, thin petals, are raised high here, like the horns of Nguni cattle sometimes grazing where these orchids grow.

The thread-like, green lateral lip lobes are positioned well lower than these arms, smaller and narrowing to their tips, pointing outwards obliquely. The central lip lobe becomes up to 2,6 cm long.

The thickish, oblong, green segments pointing outwards and down behind each flower are the rolled up lateral sepals (Pooley, 1998; Lowrey and Wright, 1987; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).