Whiskered Rein Orchid  |  

Habenaria macraithii, Family Orchidaceae, also known as Whiskered Rein Orchid, is a terrestrial orchid with 7Ð11 scattered leaves, 60Ð120 mm long and 20Ð25 mm wide, bluish- green, with three prominent veins. The flower stem is 30Ð60 cm tall with 15Ð25 flowers. Flowers are 20Ð24 mm long and 14Ð18 mm wide, green to grey-green. The dorsal sepal is 10Ð13 mm long and 4 mm wide with a recurved tip. The petals are bilobed; the posterior lobe is 12Ð16 mm long and 1Ð1.5 mm wide, tapered, curved, with a small basal auricle; the anterior lobe is thread-like, 15Ð20 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, curved; the mid-lobe is linear, 15Ð18 mm long and sharply pointed. The spur is deflexed, 18Ð22 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, and wider near the middle (Jones, 2006, p.343). In Australia, Habenaria macraithii is most closely related to H. hymenophylla, but is readily distinguished by its larger size and by numerous floral characters (Lavarack, 1984).