Habenaria rariflora A.Rich., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot.

S. P., Bramhadande, Nandikar, M. D., Scottish, The & Dalzell, N. A., 2023, Nicholas Dalzell’s orchids in western India, Rheedea 33 (3), pp. 174-192 : 187

Habenaria rariflora A.Rich., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. , sér. 2, 15: 70. 1841. Type: INDIA , Tamil Nadu, Nilgiris, Mont. Herb. Coonoor, 1840, Perrottet s.n. (P [P00439690 digital image!], perhaps holotype).

Habenaria rariflora is said to be epiphytic, rather it is commonly lithophytic (growing on rocks and walls), occasionally epiphytic, or rarely terrestrial, and is endemic to peninsular India . It can be recognized by rosette to basally gathered oblonglanceolate leaves, 1–4-flowered cymes, white fragrant flowers, long filiform lateral lobes, and a longer spur. It appears that Dalzell was uncertain in describing H. uniflora and doubted that it was more appropriate to be a variety than a distinct species. Although it was named ‘ uniflora ’ by Dalzell, it usually has 1–4-flowered cymes.

A single sheet at K (K000247424) is referrable to H. uniflora and labelled by Dalzell as ‘ Habenaria uniflora mihi. var. of H. rariflora ?’. It also has a Hooker’s annotation ‘ Bombay Dalzell’, which is chosen here as the lectotype.

16. Micropera maculata Dalzell , Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 282. 1851. Lectotype (designated by Bokil et al., 2019): INDIA , s.loc., s.d., Dalzell s.n. (K!, K000891594) Residual syntypes: (K [K001097951!, K, without barcode!]; GH ([GH00101590 digital image!]).