Habenaria halata

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Sweet rein orchid
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Orchideae
Genus: Habenaria
Species:
H. halata
Binomial name
Habenaria halata

Habenaria halata, commonly known as the sweet rein orchid, [2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern parts of the Northern Territory. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to eighteen small white, sweet-smelling flowers with a labellum shaped like a trident.

Contents

Description

Habenaria halata is a tuberous, perennial herb with two or three upright, dark green leaves at its base, the leaves 40–70 mm (2–3 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. Between seven and eighteen white, sweet-smelling flowers, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and wide are borne on a flowering stem 300–500 mm (10–20 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, overlapping with the base of the petals to form a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are about 5 mm (0.20 in) long, 3 mm (0.1 in) wide and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide. The labellum is shaped like a trident, about 6 mm (0.2 in) long, 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) wide with three lobes. The side lobes are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in), spread widely apart from each other with an upturned tip but the middle lobe is shorter but wider. The nectary spur is 8–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long with a broad base. Flowering occurs from December to February. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Habenaria halata was first formally described in 2002 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Darwin and the description was published in The Orchadian. [3] The specific epithet (halata) is Latin word meaning "odor", "fragrance" or "perfume". [4]

Distribution and habitat

The sweet rein grows with low shrubs, sedges and grasses in Melaleuca viridiflora woodland in northern parts of the Northern Territory. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Habenaria</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria, commonly called rein orchids or bog orchids, is a widely distributed genus of orchids in the tribe Orchideae. About 880 species of Habenaria have been formally described. They are native to every continent except Antarctica, growing in both tropical and subtropical zones.

<i>Habenaria chlorosepala</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria chlorosepala, commonly known as the green-hooded rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a small area in far north Queensland. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to twenty small green and white flowers.

<i>Habenaria elongata</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria elongata, commonly known as the white rein orchid, or Kimberley spider orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. It has up to four leaves at its base and up to twenty small white flowers with yellowish tips and thread-like lobes on the labellum.

Habenaria euryloba, commonly known as the small rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a small area in far north Queensland. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to twenty small white flowers with a trident-like labellum.

<i>Habenaria exilis</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria exilis, commonly known as the wispy rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a small area in far north Queensland. It usually has two leaves at its base and up to fifteen tiny whitish flowers.

Habenaria ferdinandi, commonly known as the yellow rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the Northern Territory. It usually has two leaves at its base and up to fifteen tiny yellowish green, strongly scented flowers.

Habenaria fuscina, commonly known as the green rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Cape York Peninsula. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to fifteen small green and white flowers with a labellum shaped like a trident.

Peristylus banfieldii, commonly known as the yellow ogre orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tropical North Queensland. It has between four and six leaves near its base and up to fifty cup-shaped, cream-coloured to yellow flowers on a hairy flowering stem.

Habenaria harroldii, commonly known as the southern rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the Fraser Coast region of Queensland. It has up to five leaves at its base and up to twenty five white flowers with reduced side lobes on the labellum.

Habenaria hymenophylla, commonly known as the coastal rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. It up to eight leaves scattered along the stem and up to thirty smelly green and white flowers.

<i>Habenaria propinquior</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria propinquior, commonly known as the common rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to north Queensland. It has two to four leaves at its base and up to thirty white flowers with thread-like lobes on the labellum.

<i>Habenaria rumphii</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria rumphii, commonly known as the stiff rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is widespread and common in Southeast Asia, New Guinea and northern Australia. It has six or seven leaves on the lower part of its stem and up to thirty white flowers with one long and two short lobes on the labellum.

Habenaria macraithii, commonly known as the whiskered rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a small area in far north Queensland. It has up to eleven scattered leaves and up to twenty five relatively large green flowers with thread-like petal lobes.

Habenaria ochroleuca, commonly known as the sickle orchid or sickle habenaria, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. It has two or three broad, glabrous leaves and up to twenty five white flowers on a flowering stem with many overlapping bracts. The side lobes of the labellum curve upwards.

Habenaria praecox, commonly known as the early rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the north coast of Queensland. It has between two and four narrow, upright leaves at its base and up to thirty five small white flowers with a green dorsal sepal.

Habenaria triplonema, commonly known as the twisted rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. It two or three leaves at its base and up to twenty five yellowish, strongly scented flowers.

<i>Peristylus maingayi</i> Species of orchid plant

Peristylus maingayi, commonly known as the white ogre orchid, is a species of orchid that is native to southern Indochina, New Guinea and north Queensland. It has two or three broad leaves near its base and up to fifteen small white flowers that are tube-shaped near the base and have a three-lobed labellum.

Habenaria vatia, commonly known as the curved rein orchid, is a species of orchid, that is endemic Queensland where it is only known from a small number of islands. It has between three and five leaves at its base and up to twenty-five small white flowers with a relatively long green and white nectary spur.

<i>Habenaria xanthantha</i> Species of orchid

Habenaria xanthantha, commonly known as the freak rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to far northern Queensland. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to twenty small white flowers often lacking the nectary spur present on other species in the genus.

<i>Sarcochilus serrulatus</i> Species of orchid

Sarcochilus serrulatus, commonly known as the banded butterfly orchid, is an epiphytic orchid endemic to tropical North Queensland. It has up to six crowded leaves with finely toothed and wavy edges and up to ten reddish brown flowers with a white, yellow-banded labellum.

References

  1. "Habenaria halata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 342. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. "Habenaria halata". APNI. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 392.