Images taken by Nicholas Wightman

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

Originally collected in hot dry degraded woodland growing in sandy loam soil

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.

The inflorescence begins to open in the early evening and the spadix emits a carrion-like odour to attract pollinators

Fully expanded flower shedding pollen the morning after the inflorescence first opened.

Inflorescences can appear from late October through to late December.

Fully expanded leaf with ripening seedhead.

Fully expanded leaf with ripening seedhead.

Ripening berries can range in colour from orange to red and are dispersed by birds such as Bulbils.

The berries generally contain 1 to 2 seeds which are recalcitrant and germinate within several weeks from ripening.

The tubers are generally roundish to depressed globose depending on age and produce rhizomatous offsets as a means of vegetative propagation.

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.

Growing in exposed edge of roadside verge in sandy gravelly loam soils

Growing in exposed edge of roadside verge in sandy gravelly loam soils

Growing in exposed edge of roadside verge in sandy gravelly loam soils

Growing amid sparse grasses and forbs in open miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

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

Growing in seepage areas over moss covered rocks in permanently shaded areas

Growing in seepage areas over moss covered rocks in permanently shaded areas

Growing in seepage areas over moss covered rocks in permanently shaded areas

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 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

Growing in open, hot areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open, hot areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open, hot areas of savannah grassland in sandy loam soils

Growing in open, hot areas of savannah grassland 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

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.

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

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 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

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

Clumped habit

Single habit

Clumped habit

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Plant found growing in riverine habitat

Close up of the dense inflorescence

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 on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing on periphery of large rocky outcrop of miombo woodland in sandy loam soil

Growing in an open area at the base of escarpment woodland on edge of drainage channel in clay loam soils

Growing in an open area at the base of escarpment woodland on edge of drainage channel in clay loam soils

Growing in an open area at the base of escarpment woodland on edge of drainage channel in clay loam soils

Growing in an open area at the base of escarpment woodland on edge of drainage channel in clay loam soils

Growing in an open area at the base of escarpment woodland on edge of drainage channel in clay loam soils

The vertical rhizome can reach over 30cm in length and 2.5cm wide but are brittle and easily broken

Developing rhizomes adapt to obstacles during growth and can become misshapen.

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province

Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms from material originally collected at Kachubwa village, Katete Distr., Eastern Province