habenaria tridactylites

H.tridactylites is a rather inconspicious and relatively rare orchid-it grows exclusively on the Canary Islands . It represents a relatively large orchid genus:several hundreds of its closet relatives grow chiefly in the tropical regions of the world . The main pollinators of the species are nocturnal butterflies .

The plant has two elliptic tubers stored underground ,which give rise to a ground rosette of usually three elongated glossy leaves and a sparse inflorescence of tiny yellow -and -green flowers . The flowers is dominated by its three -lobed ,broadly forked lip -hence the Latin species name of the plant . It is the most beautiful orchid of the Canary Islands. From its orginal habitat -radically diminished laurel and erica forests -it''moved house '' to new locations including man maid stations such as garden stone walls .The flowering period of this species is some what unusual -specimens growing in the lowest elevations bloom in an untraditional period of ''spring '' -starting in early November.