Biermannia bimaculata King and Pantling.

Epiphyte. Relatively a small plant. Stem very short, leaves 3 to 4in numbers and 3 to 5 cm long and less a cm wide, linear to oblong, narrowed to the base, the apex bifid. Raceme stout, short and with triangular bracts. Flowers small, creamy white, confined to the upper half of ovary. Sepals sub-equal, ovate to lanceolate, apiculate, the lateral pair attached to the foot of the column. Petals shorter than the sepals, ovate. Lip at right angle from the short foot and lying parallel to the column, with two blotches of brown on is calli.

Biermannia bimaculata, King and Pantling
Biermannia bimaculata King and Panting.

The Pursuit

Relatively a small plant, hence it is very difficult to spot it in the wild. However, found growing along with some Aerides species in a hot tropical valley. Missed it in bloom in the year 2011 as it bloomed much earlier than what is mentioned in the referral King and Pantling’s work. The authors mentioned the blooming month as July, so visited the region in the second half of July only to see the pods and the flowers withered away. It is so sad to miss a plant in bloom after spotting it. Missing a species in bloom means waiting for another full year. In 2012, much importance was given to this little species and visited and re-visited the region several times and finally along with the summer rains I found the species in bloom. Although the day started with morning sun shine, half way on my journey the sky turned dark and it started raining. Luckily I had carried my rain coat and had a nice comfortable walk wearing that in heavy rains. By the time I reached the spot, the heavy rains turned to light showers, and I was able to get this photograph of this species.