Habenaria xanthocheila Ridl. 1896 is a terrestrial, also lithophytic growing orchid species, native from China down to the Malay Peninsular.

The British botanist Henry Nicholas Ridley (1855-1956), collected the small to middle sized orchid on the island of Penang, Malaysia. He named and described the tropical plant in 1896 as Habenaria xanthocheila, which is the basionym, but nowadays just accepted as a synonym. The correct and accepted botanical name is Habenaria rhodocheila subsp. rhodocheila, but even if the orchid looks like a yellow Habenaria rhodocheila, horticulturits and orchid breeders, as well as orchid enthusiasts still use the basionym. The bright yellow flowers get a size of about 2,5 cm. Flowering period: August - October. Habenaria xanthocheila (Habenaria rhodocheila subsp. rhodocheila) orchids are protected by CITES Appendix II (trade controlled to avoid use incompatible with species survival). Habenaria xanthocheila is used as the seed parent for the stunning orchid hybrid Habeneria Light Wings.

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Image: Habenaria xanthocheila Ridl. 1896