| 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. | 
| 
 | This genus is largely a pantropical cllection of some 600 species of which only one is represented in Europe. 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. 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 
 
               
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
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