Chaparral orchid (Habenaria elongata)
Description
Habenaria elongata is a tuberous, perennial herb with between two and four oblong to egg-shaped leaves at its base, the leaves 80–120 mm (3–5 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. Between eight and twenty white flowers with yellow tips, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 300–600 mm (10–20 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, overlapping with the base of the petals to form a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are 5–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in) long, about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide and turn downwards behind the labellum. The petals are about 6 mm (0.2 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. The labellum turns downwards and has three lobes, the side lobes very narrow linear to thread-like, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and the middle lobe 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The nectary spur is curved and 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. Flowering occurs in January and February.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Habenaria
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