Habenaria lelyi Summerh. 1932 SECTION Diphyllae

TYPE Drawing by © Lely and The Kew Royal Botanic Garden WebSite

partial sun Cool Summer

Common Name Lely's Habenaria [Original Collector of Species current]

Flower Size

Found in Guinea, Nigeria and the Central African Republic at elevations around 1300 to 1400 meters as a medium sized, cool growing terrestrial with a single, radical, sub-orbicular, sub-fleshy, adpressed to the ground leaf that blooms in the summer on an erect, terminal, to 14.4" [to 36 cm] long, to 9 flowered inflorescence with a 4" [10 cm] rachis and lanceolate, acuminate floral bracts.

"This species belongs apparently to a small group in sect. Diphyllae possessing simple petals. Nine other species have been described but it is doubtful if they are all distinct. H. Lelyi is apparently rather isolated in this group, the free petals being a distinctive character. In addition it differs from all the other species in having the middle lobe of the lip wider than the lateral lobes." Summerhayes 1932

"This new variety, H lelyi var. macroceras is almost identical with the type in vegetative characters and general floral structure. The most obvious difference is in the spur which is .24 to .32" [6-8 cm] long in var. macroceras whereas in the type it is less than .12" [3 cm] long. The middle lobe of the lip is parallel-sided and obtuse in contrast to the almost lanceolate acute middle lobe of H. Lelyi type. The nearest relative of H. Lelyi is the East African H. vaginata which has much smaller flowers and a spur about .8" [2 cm] long." Summerhayes 1938

Synonyms Habenaria lelyi var. macroceras Summerh. 1938

References W3 Tropicos,Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

*Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1932: 188 Summerhayes 1932

Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1938: 148 Summerhayes 1938 as Habenaria lelyi var. macroceras

Flora of Western Tropical Africa Hutchinson 1968;

Orchids of the Central African Republic A Provisional Checklist Cribb & Fay 1986;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------