Huttonaea Harv. is a genus of tuberous plants in the Orchidaceae with 5 species endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa and Lesotho. The cauline leaves, spurless flowers, and fringed petals and lip distinguish the genus.
Huttonaea fimbriata (Harv.) Rchb.f. is distributed from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal where it grows in dark, cool forests at 1400 to 1900 m. Growing from 17 to 30 cm, it has alternate cordate leaves and small white flowers, suffused pale green, and widely spaced on the stem. The fringes are spotted reddish purple. It is distinguished by a long stalk on the lower leaf. It flowers from January to March. Photos from iNaturalist were taken by Felix Riegel and shared under a CC BY-NC license.
Huttonaea grandiflora (Schltr.) Rolfe is endemic to the Drakensberg (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Lesotho) where it is found on damp marshy grassland on steep slopes and in rock crevices. Growing from 9 to 25 cm, it has 2 oval leaves without a stalk and 1 to 4 large white flowers that are speckled purplish red on the upper petal with long fringes. The petal claws are completely fused. It flowers in summer, February to March. The photos were taken by Cameron McMaster near Aurora Peak, Maclear.
Huttonaea oreophila Schltr. grows in damp marshy grassland in the high altitude Drakensberg. Growing from 15 to 25 cm tall, it has 2 to 4 white flowers with finely dentate margins. It flowers in February. It is very similar to Huttonaea grandiflora, but is a shorter plant with smaller flowers. It flowers from February to March. Photos from iNaturalist were taken by Judd Kirkel and shared under a CC BY-NC license.
Huttonaea pulchra Harv. grows in cool, dark forests on damp rocks from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal and also in Mpumalanga at about 1400-1800 m. Growing from 15 to 40 cm tall, it has elliptical to cordate leaves that sheath the stem and three lime green reflexed sepals. The fringed petal claws are white sparsly marked pale mauve and free. It flowers January-April. Photos from iNaturalist were taken by Judd Kirkel and shared under a CC BY-NC license.
Huttonaea woodii Schltr., Maroon-eye Mask Orchid, grows in damp to marshy grassland in KwaZulu-Natal at 1300-2100 meters. It is rare, growing on two farms and in the Giants Castle Game Reserve. Growing to 30 cm, it is very similar to Huttonaea pulchra, but grows in grassland instead of forest and has shorter leaves and petals heavily marked with purple. It flowers January to February. The reflexed sepals and lip are white to pale green and the fringed petal claws are free. The photo from iNaturalist was taken by Mary Cole and shared under a CC BY-NC license.
