Habenaria armata Rchb.f.1854

Plant and flowers in situ Brazil

Plant specimen Photos by © Joćo A. N. Batista; Joćo Batista F. da Silva; Luciano de Bem Bianchetti and the Orquideas de Minas Gerais; El Genero Habenaria

Closeup Drawing of flower Drawing by © Joćo A. N. Batista; Joćo Batista F. da Silva; Luciano de Bem Bianchetti and the The genus Habenaria (Orchidaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon

PartWarmSpring

Common Name The Armed Habenaria

Flower Size .6" [1.5 cm]

Found in Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil in open habitats at elevations around 600 to 1700 meters as a miniature to medium sized, warm growing terrestrial and blooms in the spring on a erect, few flowered inflorescence.

+This species is similar in flower morphology to H. amambayensis and H. aff. warmingii, characterized by the lateral segments of the petals and lip, which are distinctly longer than the corresponding petal posterior segment and lip midlobe. However, H. armata is distinct by smaller plants (about 15-30 cm tall in H. armata vs. 24-76 cm tall in H. amambayensis and around 90 cm tall in H. aff. warmingii), the larger leaves concentrated on the lower part of the stem (vs. the larger leaves concentrated in the middle of the stem in H. amambayensis and H. aff. warmingii) and smaller flowers (dorsal sepal about 4-5 x 3 mm vs. 6-7 x 5 mm in H. amambayensis and 11-13 x 6-7 mm in H. aff. warmingii). Flowers are completely green and the species is typical of dry or at most seasonally humid places.

Synonyms Habenaria elegantula Hoehne 1937; Habenaria turmerensis Kraenzl. 1905

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Bonplandia Rchb.f 1853; Beitrage Zur Orchideenkunde Von Colombia 27:125 Schlechter 1924; Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana Vol 7 Steyermark, Berry, Yatskievych and Holst 2003; +The genus Habenaria (Orchidaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon Joćo A. N. Batista; Joćo Batista F. da Silva; Luciano de Bem Bianchetti; Rev. bras. Bot. vol.31 no.1 Sćo Paulo Jan./Mar. 2008

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