''Holothrix micrantha'' is an

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

endemic to

Gauteng Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...

, South Africa which was last seen in 1925. It is listed on the Red List of South African Plants as "Critically Endangered" and is regarded as possibly extinct— a result of the long absence since it was last recorded given searches have been undertaken in suitable habitat.

Description

It is described as closely resembling '' Holothrix incurva'' but smaller, having a denser spike and petals of less than 5mm. The scape has long, straight hairs without bracts; sepals with a few hairs at the tips; petals are undivided with carnose tips; leaves are pilose and withered at flowering; lips carnose divided into five linear, acute lobes; spur broadly conical, curved. ''Holothrix micrantha'' flowers between September and October.

Distribution

Rudolf Schlechter located this species in 1893 on grassy cliffs above

Heidelberg Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...

at an altitude of around 1800m. Two other possible observations were located from Modderfontein and from a marsh in Killarney; although neither of these have been confirmed. Urban expansion is blamed for destroying subpopulations, however, intact habitat remains in the Suikerbosrand nature reserve; other threats include inappropriate fire management as well as alien invasive plants.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15483671 micrantha Flora of the Northern Provinces