Povodnik

Family Orchidaceae. The name derives from the Latin word habena (rein, bridle); apparently given for the long and narrow strap-like fringes on the lip. They occur from the tropical to the taiga zones in the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The genus contains about 600 species.

Plants up to 150 cm tall, with a leafy stem, with thick roots or with entire root tubers. Leaves green, alternate. Inflorescence a raceme or a spike, comparatively short, more or less lax, usually many-flowered. Flowers unusual in shape, white, yellow, orange, or purple. Sepals broad, freely spreading to the sides; lateral sepals long and curved; the dorsal sepal straight, oval, obtuse and concave. Petals straight, unequal-sided, ovate-lanceolate, sometimes toothed on the outer margin. Lip 1-3-lobed, fringed. Spur thin, longer than the lip. Anther locules divergent and continued into short forward-directed channels. Pollinia 2, viscidia naked, without pockets. Stigma raised on a special outgrowth. Ovary twisted.