Common name: Habenaria orchid, शेपुट हबेअमरी Sheput habe-amri (Marathi)
Botanical name: Habenaria longicorniculata Family: Orchidaceae (orchid family)
Sheput habe-amri is a 1-3 ft high terrestrial herb.
Oblong-elliptic leaves are 3-10, clustered on the base, and lie flat on the
ground. Flowers occur on a long erect stalk which is 30-80 cm tall. White
fragrant flowers are 1-4 in number. Greenish white petals are 10-14 mm long.
Flowers have a spur which is 10-15 cm long! Overall, the flowers have the
shape of an inverted funnel.
The Nilgiris have 17 species of orchids belonging to the Habenaria genus and it
is usual to see hundreds of these, flowering side by side on a single grassy
and rocky slope.
| Photographed in
Belgaum, Western Ghats. |
Identification credit: Pravin Kawale
|
ative