Habenaria tridactylites was first described from the Canary Islands in 1835.  Its name literally means  “with three fingers” and this is a reference to the obvious three deep divisions of the lip.

The species is one of  a trio of orchids endemic to the Canaries and is the single European representative of the Habenaria genus. This genus has a widespread tropical distribution of around 600 species and this population of Habenaria tridactylites is thought to be the last remnant of a once much larger presence in the North Atlantic zone. Interestingly, analysis has shown that this species closest relative is Habenaria aitchinsonii from Nepal.

This is  a  rare orchid  throughout the Islands but seems to get more frequent towards the west of the archipelago where although highly localized can occur in reasonably large colonies. The Canary Islands offer a harsh environment for even the toughest vegetation and this species survives in a generally hostile landscape, often at relatively high altitudes (up to around 1500 meters). Unlike its two fellow endemics – Himantoglossum metlesicsianum and Orchis canariensis – it avoids the bleakest and more exposed lava fields, preferring areas of thin grassland and light woodland. These conditions are still mildly acidic and although it can happily grow in full sun, it seems to seek out light shade where this is available.

The pictures all come from the islands of Tenerife and La Palma date from the second week of January.