Habenaria triplonema, commonly known as the twisted rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. It two or three leaves at its base and up to twenty five yellowish, strongly scented flowers.
Description
Habenaria triplonema is a tuberous, perennial herb with between two and three bright green leaves. The leaves are long and wide. Between eight and twenty five fragrant, greenish yellow and white flowers, long and wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The dorsal sepal is about long and wide and the lateral sepals are slightly wider and spread apart from each other. The petals are a similar size to the lateral sepals. The labellum has three thread-like lobes, the side lobes long and often twisted, the middle lobe long. The nectary spur is long. Flowering occurs from February to March.
Taxonomy and naming Habenaria triplonema was first formally described in 1911 by Rudolf Schlechter from a specimen collected from Port Darwin and the description was published in Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis. The specific epithet (triplonema) means "triple thread", referring to lobes of the labellum. The name Habenaria triplonema is regarded as a synonym of Habenaria ochroleuca by Plants of the World Online.
Distribution and habitat The twisted rein is found in northern parts of the Northern Territory, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, between Ingham and Rockhampton in Queensland, on some Torres Strait Islands and in New Guinea. It grows in open forest and woodland, sometimes near swamps and often with tall grasses.
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