Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Moederkappie, Oktoberlelie, Green wood orchid

Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid)

Distribution: Mozambique, South Africa

Habitat: Sandy soils in coastal scrub and forest margins

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber - seasonally dormant)

Comments: A fairly common and widespread deciduous, terrestrial orchid which can be found from Yzerfontein in South Africa to Mozambique and Zimbabwe. This orchid's unusual floral features can be explained by the plant's relationship with its pollinator, the hawkmoth. Moth-pollinated flowers tend to be white, and although this species has mostly green flowers, the central parts of each flower is white. The flower becomes scented in the evening, when hawkmoths become active. The sweet floral scent attracts moths to the flowers and when they visit a flower to feed on its nectar, the pollinarium (a mass of pollen) attaches to the moth's eyes, which it then carries to the next flower it visits.