Leaf epidermal characteristics were investigated in twelve Western Himalayan species of Habenaria Willd. sensu lato with a view to assess their taxonomic and ecological importance. The leaves in all species investigated were soft, shiny and devoid of trichomes. The epidermal cells were polygonal in shape but quadrilateral on adaxial surface of H. edgeworthii J. D. Hook. Cell walls were straight except on abaxial epidermis of H. commelinifolia (Roxb.) Wall. ex Lindl. and H. ensifolia Lindl., where they were slightly undulated. The leaves were invariably hypostomatic and possessed anomocytic type of stomata. Additional presence of diacytic (H. plantaginea Lindl.) and twin (H. marginata Coleb.) stomata was of taxonomic implication. Stomatal frequency (per mm2) was lowest (16.01±1.09) in H. edgeworthii and highest (56.84±3.50) in H. marginata, and stomatal index (%) ranged between 11.93±1.14 (H. stenopetala Lindl.) and 27.24±1.26 (H. aitchisonii Reichb. f.). Leaf epidermal features reflected no apparent relationship with species habitat. There were significant differences observed in many epidermal characteristics, which can ably supplement the data available on gross morphology to help in delimiting different Habenaria species.