Habenaria roxburghii

Species of the Month – September 2014

Habenaria roxburghii Nicolson

The genus Habenaria Willd., belonging to Orchidoideae subfamily of the plant family Orchidaceae, takes the name from Latin for rein or strap referring to the strap like spur. This genus of terrestrial orchids is one of the genera having largest number of species.

Habenaria roxburghii Nicolson
syn Gymnadenia plantaginea (Roxb.) Lindl. ex Wall.

Named after William Roxburgh, a scottish surgeon and botanist who was in charge of the Calcutta Botanical Gardens.

Habenaria roxburghii
Habenaria roxburghii Nicolson

This white flowered terrestrial orchid usually blooms in the months of August-September, with the plant usually growing up to the height of 12 to 15inches. The spur is usually 3-4cm in length.

The typical habitat to find this is grassy slopes of hillocks. The leaves, usually 2-3 appear before the flowering and disappear after the flowering season only to appear in the next season. Leaves are fleshy and flat on the ground. The plant stays dormant till then surviving on its tubers underground. The plant survives/multiplies both vegitatively (developing new tubers every season and new shoots sprouting out) and through the seed dispersal from the pollinated flowers. Flowers are pure white and many in number. Flowers usually last 2-3 weeks once they open.

Habitat destruction, grazing are the few of many threats this and other terrestrial orchids face. Change in rainfall also seem to play major role in flowering and plant growth.

Along with other lesser popular ground orchids, this species in not commonly found in cultivation. Perhaps lack of adequate knowledge of soil and growing conditions and having not big and showy flowers have made this orchid less popular among growers. However with regular observation it can be seen that the presence and good population of such terrestrial orchids can reveal a lot of the climatic conditions of the habitat where they are growing.

Habenaria roxburghii
Habenaria roxburghii Nicolson

Article by: Ravee Bhat

2 thoughts on “Habenaria roxburghii

Leave a Comment