Habenaria hymenophylla, commonly known as the coastal rein orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to northern Australia. It has up to eight leaves scattered along the stem and up to thirty fragrant green and white flowers.
Habenaria hymenophylla is a tuberous, perennial herb with between six and eight leaves. The leaves are NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. Between twenty and thirty green and white flowers, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The flowers have an unpleasant smell, especially in the late afternoon. The dorsal sepal is about 5sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and wide and forms a hood over the column. The lateral sepals are a similar size to the dorsal sepal and spread apart from each other. The petals are divided into two lobes about 1.5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide, one about 6sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and the other about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The labellum has three thread-like lobes NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The nectary spur is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and curved. Flowering occurs from October to April.[1] [2]
Habenaria hymenophylla was first formally described in 1911 by Rudolf Schlechter and the description was published in Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis.[3]
The coastal rein is found in northern parts of the Northern Territory where it is found near Darwin, in Arnhem Land and on Melville Island. It also occurs in disjunct populations in Queensland, including on the Cape York Peninsula and between Ingham and Rockhampton. It grows in rainforest, often near the coast and in woodland.[4]