Images taken by Nicholas Wightman

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in rocky/stony sandy soil amongst grasses and Xerophyta sp. in undisturbed miombo woodland

Growing in rocky/stony sandy soil amongst grasses and Xerophyta sp. in undisturbed miombo woodland

Growing in rocky/stony sandy soil amongst grasses and Xerophyta sp. in undisturbed miombo woodland

Chikanda is a local Zambian foodstuff made from the dried ground tubers of a range of terrestrial orchids in the genera Disa, Habenaria, Satyrium, Brachycorythis and Platycoryne

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kalongosola village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kalongosola village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kalongosola village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Growing on Pericopsis angolensis

Growing on Pericopsis angolensis

Growing on Pericopsis angolensis

Growing on Pericopsis angolensis

Growing on Pericopsis angolensis

Plants can often be found in areas prone to annual fires

Plants can often be found in areas prone to annual fires

Close up of the flower showing the green central band on each tepal

Bulb showing the fibrous neck.

Mature bulbs displaying long neck

The pure white flowers open about an hour after sunset.

By the first morning, the flowers have developed a slight pink tinge.

The inflorescence sometimes opens in succession leading to a contrast of the new and old flowers.

The infructescence develops quickly after fertilization producing sometimes dozens of seeds.

Seeds are irregular in shape due to their development and can range from pea-sized to over 1cm across.

Frequent component of the woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Frequent component of the woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Frequent component of the woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Uncommon component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Uncommon component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Uncommon component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Uncommon component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Uncommon component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Uncommon component of woodland understorey growing amongst grasses, sedges and forbs in loam soils.

Growing amongst small to mid-sized grasses in the upper to lower slopes of perennially wet riverside dambo above Kalonde Falls

Growing amongst small to mid-sized grasses in the upper to lower slopes of perennially wet riverside dambo above Kalonde Falls

Growing amongst small to mid-sized grasses in the upper to lower slopes of perennially wet riverside dambo above Kalonde Falls

Slender herb growing in open dambo grassland

Slender herb growing in open dambo grassland

The collection of this specimen is the first record of the species for Zambia

The collection of this specimen is the first record of the species for Zambia

The collection of this specimen is the first record of the species for Zambia

Locally common on the mounds of a species of Cubitermes

Locally common on the mounds of a species of Cubitermes

Locally common on the mounds of a species of Cubitermes

Locally common on the mounds of a species of Cubitermes

Locally common on the mounds of a species of Cubitermes

Growing in rocky escarpment Brachystegia woodland in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing in rocky escarpment Brachystegia woodland in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing in rocky escarpment Brachystegia woodland in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing on flood susceptible river bank along the Kalungwishi R. in medium to light shade in clayish loam soil.

Growing on flood susceptible river bank along the Kalungwishi R. in medium to light shade in clayish loam soil.

Growing on flood susceptible river bank along the Kalungwishi R. in medium to light shade in clayish loam soil.

Growing on flood susceptible river bank along the Kalungwishi R. in medium to light shade in clayish loam soil.

Growing in ruderal sites along roadsides and Nkamba Bay airstrip

Growing in ruderal sites along roadsides and Nkamba Bay airstrip

Growing in ruderal sites along roadsides and Nkamba Bay airstrip

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in small open/deciduous patches within Itigi thicket in sandy loam soil

Growing in small open/deciduous patches within Itigi thicket in sandy loam soil

Growing in small open/deciduous patches within Itigi thicket in sandy loam soil

Growing in small open/deciduous patches within Itigi thicket in sandy loam soil

Growing amid grasses in sandy loam soil

Growing amid grasses in sandy loam soil

Growing amid grasses in sandy loam soil

Growing amid grasses in sandy loam soil

Growing in open miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing in disturbed miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Growing in disturbed miombo woodland in sandy loam soils

Suspected species harvested for the Chikanda trade

Suspected species harvested for the Chikanda trade

Suspected species harvested for the Chikanda trade

Suspected species harvested for the Chikanda trade

Suspected species harvested for the Chikanda trade

Growing in well drained section of perennially wet dambo grassland in sandy to sandy loam soil

Growing in well drained section of perennially wet dambo grassland in sandy to sandy loam soil

Growing in well drained section of perennially wet dambo grassland in sandy to sandy loam soil

Growing by a rocky outcrop in perennially wet dambo grassland in thin sections of sandy soil over rock or between cracks, oftern inundated in up to 2.5 cm of water.

Growing by a rocky outcrop in perennially wet dambo grassland in thin sections of sandy soil over rock or between cracks, oftern inundated in up to 2.5 cm of water.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations threatened by overharvesting.

Small population of albino flowered plants amid regular purple flowered plants

Small population of albino flowered plants amid regular purple flowered plants

Small population of albino flowered plants amid regular purple flowered plants

In low rocky outcrop in miombo woodland growing in sandy loam soil

In low rocky outcrop in miombo woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Plants collected off trees cleared along transmission line following D39 road developments and flowered at Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi.

Large clumps growing on rocks and tree trunks with Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Cyrtorchis crassiflora, Bulbophyllum expallidum, Tridactyle sp. and Polystachya sp.

Large clumps growing on rocks and tree trunks with Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Cyrtorchis crassiflora, Bulbophyllum expallidum, Tridactyle sp. and Polystachya sp.

Large clumps growing on rocks and tree trunks with Cyrtorchis praetermissa, Cyrtorchis crassiflora, Bulbophyllum expallidum, Tridactyle sp. and Polystachya sp.

Growing in moss in fork of Brachystegia boehmii trunk in rocky miombo woodland near Kalonde Falls

Growing in moss in fork of Brachystegia boehmii trunk in rocky miombo woodland near Kalonde Falls

Growing in moss in fork of Brachystegia boehmii trunk in rocky miombo woodland near Kalonde Falls

Growing along streamside at the margins of riverine forest in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing along streamside at the margins of riverine forest in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing along streamside at the margins of riverine forest in sandy to sandy loam soils

Growing along streamside at the margins of riverine forest in sandy to sandy loam soils

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

Tubers of this species are possibly used in the preparation of a local Zambian dish called Chikanda with wild populations may be threatened by overharvesting.

The thin pods split along a the edge to release the narrow seeds, each with a tuft of hair to aid dispersion

The tubers are roundish to discoid in shape usually with a projection from the centre where the annual stems emerge.

Tubers appear to be stoloniferous in habit

The fleshy roots emerge from a short rhizome

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Close up of the dense inflorescence

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kaoma Distr., Western Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kaoma Distr., Western Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kaoma Distr., Western Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kaoma Distr., Western Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu farms from material collected in Kaoma Distr., Western Province

Plant with immature seedpods found growing just above a drainage basin of the Munali Hills

Plant with immature seedpods found growing just above a drainage basin of the Munali Hills

The indistinct rhizome with numerous stout tuberous roots

Growing in exposed rocky outcrops amid grasses in sandy soil

Growing in exposed rocky outcrops amid grasses in sandy soil

Growing in exposed rocky outcrops amid grasses in sandy soil

Growing in exposed rocky outcrops amid grasses in sandy soil

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay loam soils

Growing in miombo woodland in sandy clay loam soils

Erect shrubs c. 2-3 m tall growing in seasonally dry ravines in lake basin chipya woodland near landfill site

Erect shrubs c. 2-3 m tall growing in seasonally dry ravines in lake basin chipya woodland near landfill site

Erect shrubs c. 2-3 m tall growing in seasonally dry ravines in lake basin chipya woodland near landfill site

Erect shrubs c. 2-3 m tall growing in seasonally dry ravines in lake basin chipya woodland near landfill site

Erect shrubs c. 2-3 m tall growing in seasonally dry ravines in lake basin chipya woodland near landfill site

Growing in slightly disturbed miombo woodland along D36 road c. 15 km from D19 road turnoff.