Habenaria walleri

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid. It is a slender herb. It grows in the soil. It grows up to 80 cm tall. The tuber is 4 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are 7-10 erect leaves. They are oval and the largest one is 6-14 cm long. The leaves are close to the stem. The flowers are large and white with green sepals. They form a head 8-28 cm long. They have a sweet scent at night. The fruit are thin capsules that open by slits to release the very small seeds.

There are about 500-600 Habenaria species. It is becoming rare due to over harvesting. Plants should be cultivated not simply harvested from the wild.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in marshes and grassland. In Tanzania it grows between 1,000-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The tuber needs special preparation. The tubers are washed, pounded, the skin removed, dried in the sun then repounded. They are then boiled in water and then dried. This is then boiled with salt and eaten.

Tubers are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Pseudobulbs, tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from tubers.

In Tanzania tubers are harvested May to July. Tubers can be stored in a cool dry place for several weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Chinaka, Chikande

Synonyms

Habenaria soyauxii Kraenzl.;