John and Gerry's    Orchids of Britain and Europe

Home	The genus Habenaria

Origin: Habenaria, literally means "three fingered", a reference to the shape of the lip.

The species:- H. tridactylites	This genus is largely a pantropical collection of some 600 species  of which only one is represented in Europe. The typical characteristics of this genus include 1. a pair of tapering tubers. 2. the three strap like lobes that divide the lip. 3. a hood formed by the dorsal sepal and petals. 4. a pair of large oval basal leaves. 5. generally greenish flowers. 6. a spur is present. 7. spreading lateral sepals H. tridactylities is a rare orchid endemic to the Canary Islands, predominantly on the western side of the archipelago where it is considered to be a survivor of an old Atlantic flora. It's primary habitat is amongst the scrub layer of Laurel forests which are fast disappearing and as a consequence contributing to the decline of this species.
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