Habenaria halata, commonly known as the sweet rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern parts of the Northern Territory. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to eighteen small white, sweet-smelling flowers with a labellum shaped like a trident.
Habenaria halata is a tuberous, perennial herb with two or three upright, dark green leaves at its base, the leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Between seven and eighteen white, sweet-smelling flowers, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal is about 4sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide, overlapping with the base of the petals to form a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are about 5sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and spread widely apart from each other. The petals are about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 2.5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The labellum is shaped like a trident, about 6sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with three lobes. The side lobes are about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1, spread widely apart from each other with an upturned tip but the middle lobe is shorter but wider. The nectary spur is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long with a broad base. Flowering occurs from December to February.[1]
Habenaria halata was first formally described in 2002 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Darwin and the description was published in The Orchadian.[2] The specific epithet (halata) is Latin word meaning "odor", "fragrance" or "perfume".[3]
The sweet rein grows with low shrubs, sedges and grasses in Melaleuca viridiflora woodland in northern parts of the Northern Territory.