Orchids appear to be very common in the miombo woodland habitats of Zambia. During the rainy season it is not uncommon to see a few different orchids on a short walk, and every few weeks there are different species to be seen. This is a very diverse group with very interesting flower shapes. A further couple of species are found in grassy dambo marshes, swamp and growing on tree trunks.
Orchids are fairly easy to distinguish as a family, but as I have no easy access to a field guide I do not have much opportunity to identify them. I have tried my best using ‘A guide to teh common wild flowers of Zambia and neighbouring regions’, but haven’t identified many to my satisfaction. I will number each photograph, and if you recognise one, please feel free to comment below.
I am including information on the habitat I found each orchid in, as well as the approximate date, as most species have a very short flowering season.
Two orchids are economically important in this area: the tubers are used to make the local delicacy ‘Chikanda’. Two species are used, although I do not know what they are. One has a carrot-like root (possibly as twin-roots), and the other is a round tuber I’ve seen in markets. The roots are pounded and added to pounded groundnut (peanut) flour. This is baked, and it gels to the consistency and colour of polony, with a smoky, pleasant taste that may be a bit strange to unaccustomed tongues. The demand for this delicacy has lead to overexploitation in many areas, especially where harvesting is done unsustainably. A careful Chikanda digger will turn the turf of Dambo grass back over, so that the leaves of the orchid get light and the plant stays alive. More lazy harvesters leave a dambo completely dug over and make no effort to assist the orchid plant they have just removed the roots from.
So, below, the year in orchids!
January 2011 (all the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them):
1) Satyrium kitimboense from miombo understory near Lake Wakawaka (halfway between Kasanka National Park and Chiundaponde village), seen in late January 2011.
2) Habernaria sp. Semi-flooded delta island, Sheobill Camp, Chikuni, Bangweulu Wetlands. Late January 2011
Most of the orchids have finished flowering at the end of the rains, and only a few species flower during the dry season:
July 2011:
I rescued this leopard orchid off a large tree that had fallen down. It was tied to a different tree, but it gradually lost its leaves. I was surprised to find it had the energy to flower in the middle of the dry season. During the rains in 2012, it started growing vigorously and its new roots are now clasping it firmly to its new tree trunk. It seems to be thriving, and I haven’t seen many others in the area.
3) The leopard orchid (Ansellia africana) flowering at its new site on a kiaat tree (Pterocarpus angolensis). Nkondo headquarters, 23 July 2011.
One sees a good number of epiphytic orchids growing on forest trees in Zambia. I haven’t seen any flower, but I’ll include pictures of this one with bulbous pseudostems growing on tree trunks in riverine forest at Chishimba Falls, Kasama. These were not flowering when we visited in July 2011.
4) An epiphytic Bulbophyllum acutibracteatum var. rubrobrunneopapillosum (????) growing on a riverine forest tree trunk at Chishimba Falls, Kasama, in Northern Zambia. 14 July 2011.
October 2011:
5) The first terrestrial orchid to pop up in the miombo in the baking heat of October. Eulophia gonychila, in miombo near the Lulimala River, Nkondo headquarters, Bangweulu Wetlands. 26 October 2011.
November 2011 (now THIS is orchid season!):
6) Eulophia euantha- from miombo woodland at Nkondo headquarters, Bangweulu Wetlands, 25 November 2011.
7) Tiny cryptic orchid (Eulophia acutilabris) from miombo. Boy was I lucky to find this amongst the grass! Near Nkondo headquarters, Bangweulu Wetlands, 25 November 2011.
8) The large, spectacular orchid Eulophia cucullata that I also saw flowering near Lusaka in early December. Probably a widespread species. It has large flowers, and the inflorescence is about 1m tall. From miombo near Nkondo headquarters, Bangweulu Wetlands, 24 November 2011.
8) A closeup of the flower of the same large, common orchid, Eulophia cucullata. Same details as for above.
9) This interesting plant that I suspect is a climbing orchid (Vanilla polylepis) was growing on a forested cliff at the upper waterfalls on the Lukulu River, inside Lavushi Manda National Park. No flower when we saw it on 26 November 2011.
10) This delicate orchid (Eulophia livingstoniana) grew near our campsite in miombo near the Lukulu River in Lavushi Manda NP, 26 November 2011.
11) A slightly different coloured form of Eulophia livingstoniana. Also from miombo in Lavushi Manda NP, 25/11/2011.
12) This is one of the nicest orchids (Eulophia latilabris) I've seen in Lavushi Manda National Park. The picture captures some of the essence of the place, especially the Raffia palms in the background. This orchid was from a dambo, but there wasn't much time for photographs because we needed to winch out the bogged-down vehicle. 25/11/2011
13) This spectacular large orchid (Nervilea shirensis) has only one or two flowers at the end of its long stalk. It was found in miombo woodland near Nkondo headquarters, Bangweulu Wetlands, on the same orchid wonder-day, 25 November 2011.
December 2011:
14) This beautiful orange orchid (Platycoryne buchananiana) was flowering on a grassy island on the floodplain, while it was dry. The island would normally be submerged. A typical Bangweulu thundercloud is building up in the background. Near Chikuni, Bangweulu Wetlands, 7 December 2011.
There would be far more, except I only occasionally visit the best orchid habitat, miombo woodland!
BangweuluFish 
Nice Stuff Carl!
7 and 12 are also Eulophias and I think 9 is a Vanilla!
Trust the fishes are giving up their secrets!
Aha! Vanilla- I thought I recognised the plant as an orchid, but could not figure out from where! Could very well have been a photo from one of your lectures floating around in my subconscious! They have spectacular flowers I believe…
Hi Carl,
Bulbophyllum acutibracteatum is not listed in Flora Zambesiaca anywhere – are you sure about this?
Habenarias need a lot of time to work them out!
7. Eulophia acutilabris
9. Vanilla polylepis
11. Eulophia livingstoniana (another form)
12. Eulophia latilabris
13. Nervilea shirensis
Best wishes
John B.
Thank you very much John, I’ll update my captions! I only tentatively gave the Bulbophyllum that name because that is what I found in the book, which listed that particular variety for Zambia. I know fitting a name to a plant without a flower is risky, especially if its from a book that only covers the common flowers. I wonder what it could be…is the genus at least correct? Thanks for naming 13 (Nervilae shirensis) for me, its a striking plant.
Hi Baie mooi fofos van pragtige orgidiee.
Hey Carl, to alleviate some confusion regarding the local flora you should (I say it like you have time) do plant collections. That’s the only real way in a sense that you can discern between the different species, and also it would be cool to see the collection. Go on Carl, you know you wanna..
Later
Nic
Nic, I would but its hard enough to make the effort to interrupt a hike to get the camera out and take a picture! Keep finding myself falling behind my companions!
Yip, its a mission! Well as long as you keep taking great pics!
Hi Carl,
I’ll be in Zambia Eulophia-hunting for the next few weeks. It would be great to hear from you and get some tips on good hunting grounds.
Ruth