memoirs of an orchid hunter – Page 2 – Naresh Swami | The Orchids of the Sikkim Himalaya

Ponerorchis chusua (D.Don) Soó.

The Plant

Terrestrial. Whole plant 12 to 26 cm in height. Tuber two, unequal and attached to each other with a small fleshy attachment, obelliptic to obovate, 1 to 1.5 cm long and about 1 cm in width at its widest part, naked. The new and small tuber developing to a matured one for the corresponding year. Stem arising from the apex of the matured tuber, almost two-third in height of the whole plant, cylindrical, naked and minutely narrowing towards its apex, faintly ribbed. Leaves two, unequal, arranged distance apart, 2 to 5 cm long and less than 1 cm in width, oblanceolate with broader base, sessile and clasping. The lower more than twice long as the upper one. Flowers 4 to 7 in a terminal spike much narrow than the stem, not secund.

The Flower

Flowers 2 to 2.5 cm long diagonally. Sepals un-equal; dorsal smaller than the lateral, lanceolate to ovate, arching over the petals, one nerved; lateral ovate with narrowing and wavy apex, spreading, three nerved. Petals slightly longer than the dorsal sepal, ovate, arranged forward with curving and over-lapping apex, one nerved. Lip distinctly and deeply three lobed, mid and side lobes as long as the lateral sepals; mid lobe narrow and short than the side lobes, oblong; lateral diverging, obelliptic with wider apex and sickle curve inner margins, apex margin with many wide round teeth. Spur longer than the lip and the ovary, slightly curved, cylindrical with wide base and apex, tip rounded. Leaf bract of varying size, diminishing towards the apex of the plant, lanceolate, erect or horizontal, 1 to 4 cm long and less than 1 cm in width, three nerved, arising from the upper base of the ovary.

Stem pale green reticulated with pink throughout, except near to the base of the two leaves, where it is pale green. Floral spike of a darker pinkish brown shade.

Sepals and petals pinkish white turning pale pink towards its apex with many irregular darker spots and markings. Lip of a darker pinkish shade throughout with a few distinct elongated spots on its base margining the mouth of the spur, the mid lobe also got few irregular markings of the same dark shade. Spur pinkish white at its base turning pale pink to its apex. Floral bract brownish green on its upper portion and pinkish brown on its lower portion.

The Pursuit

A beautiful small plant of the Alpine slopes, spread across half the length of the globe, from the mountains Siberia to the Himalayas. During my research time I searched many books by Indian “scientists” for a good documentary evidence (photograph) of this plant in vain. However, many lengthy articles were published on this species. As there was no proper documentary evidence for reference on this species, the species found a special mention in my list for the Alpine hunt.

King and Pantling had mentioned its altitude between 10,000 and 13,000 ft and blooming period as July and August. I moved to the high alpine areas by the first week of June and was working relatively in the lower altitudes during the first month. By July, I became very much accustomed with the high alpine region and was able to cover many unexplored regions and discovered several undocumented species. But, this one remained elusive. The description of the species and an analysis of its other habitats across the globe prompted me to concentrate on wet open slopes for the species. In the alpine region, the higher we go the drier the slopes are. However, the region in mention by King and Pantling comes in the wet zone, especially in the monsoon months between June and August.

Several days went by without a trace of the species. As those days were my first visit to the alpine zone, I was travelling all over the region every day. Repeated failures to locate the species in vain prompted me to assume that the species may have gone extinct. As the area I was covered was negligible in comparison to the vast Himalayas, I was certain I would find it from another habitat. Hence, I moved to another location in pursuit of the species.

On the fifth day at my new location, during our breakfast meeting my local guide informed about an open valley surrounded by very high mountains. He also explained to me the difficult climb up an 18,450 ft high pass to reach the location. I was eager to visit the location, however the guide was very much reluctant to accompany. It took a couple of days to convince him to accompany me. Another two days also went past in organising the journey including yaks to carry tent and other necessary food items for the 6 day up and down trek and a couple of days stay in the valley. The journey was very tedious; the uphill climb was very hard. We were able to trek hardly for 4 hours a day. On the second day, we camped at the top of the pass at 18,450 ft. While pitching tent, the strong winds blew our tent downhill. We were forced to spend the remaining part of the day and night inside the erected tent, so that our weight would prevent the winds from blowing away the tent. On the third day, we descended down to the valley to a much lower altitude of around 16,750 ft, which was more than 20 to 25 sq. km. wide. Even though, the trek was tedious and hard, I found a couple of rare species during this trek.

Early next morning, I started my pursuit in this new habitat, thus becoming the first botanist to step foot there. As the valley was surrounded by high hills, there were no winds; the air was steady. Even the percentage of oxygen was high, easing our breath. The first two hours went enjoying various flora of the new “world” and documenting some other Alpine flowers. As I was surveying the banks of a narrow stream, I stumbled across a patch of this species with most of them in bloom. The plants were with unnoticeably small narrow leaves and wide pink flowers. They were all growing near to each other thus making a carpet of pale pink. The habitat was about 12 to 15 ft wide and some 20 ft in length. Even though not precise, I counted about 45 specimens in that habitat. To select a few plants to document from a beautiful set of plants was always a very difficult task. Each one seems to be better than the other.

Finally, I zeroed on seven plants for study and documentation and produced some perfect documentary evidences, probably for the first time in the history of the species from the region. We spent another six days there re-discovering another few species, thus creating history. The return journey was made very tedious with the blessings of the rain god.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Orchis chusua Don., Page no 303/304.

Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze, Revis.

The Plant

Terrestrial. Plant of varying height, 7 to 40 cm. Stem arising from the base of an ovoid pseudo-bulb of the previous year, slender, fleshy with a broad ovate long sheath at its base often overlapping with another short one half its lengths. Pseudo-bulb with many fibrous roots from its base and covered with many dried sheaths of the previous year. Stem between one-third and half the height of the whole plant. Leaves two, almost opposite in arrangement, unequal, ovate to oblong, 2 to 5 cm in length and 1 to 3 cm in width, base narrowed to a tubular petiole. Inflorescence terminal, raceme ribbed, flowers small, many, laxly arranged.

The Flower

Flowers non-resupinate. Sepals un-equal, lanceolate with broad base, dorsal pointing downwards, lateral erect and somewhat twisted to its apex. Petals as long as the sepals, much narrowed, oblong and spreading. Lip cordate with broad base, slightly longer than the sepals and petals, fleshy, basal part thickened with side lobes. Floral bract lanceolate, arising from the lower base and as long as the twisted and erect ovary.

Sepals, petals and floral bract yellowish green. Lip dark green with its pointed apex turning yellowish green.

Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze, Revis.

The Pursuit

A species with its presence all over the Himalayas and well-documented. I too spotted it from the compound of my place of stay in the initial days itself. However, a close study of few specimens near to my place of stay made me think about studying the species from a wide range, as many specimens had shown variations. Hence, every other day I studied several specimens I encountered.

In the mean time, I came across an article on “Resupination” in an International journal. The theory mentioned in the article made me eager to know whether any of the specimens of this species behave the same way as mentioned in the article. Even though I observed several hundred specimens in the coming days none of them showed anything related to the theory in the article.

In the third month of the Alpine flowering season, I was busy travelling up and down the hill documenting and studying many species. In between I found time to check this species also for any new theories. One afternoon, as I was walking back to my camp after long hours in the high hills, I observed few specimens of this species growing close together some 5 ft below into the valley side of my trek route. My curiosity made me think of having a close look of those specimens. The slope was almost vertical and any mistake in negotiating the way down would be a disaster. With the help of my guide I maneuvered down the vertical slope and reached the plants. All of them were in bloom. As the flowers were so tiny, it need close and sharp observation to see the differences. As I was not having a proper positioning there it was very difficult to do keen observation and document those flowers. However, I understood those tiny flowers need more keen observation as I found something unusual.

I decided to retire for the day and come back next day with adequate gear to go down the slope and make right understanding of the flowers. Next day, we took a 7-foot long bamboo ladder and a few meters of rope to the location for facilitating the descent. We hung the ladder down the slope by tying it to a nearby Rhododendron tree with ropes. I slowly went down the ladder and standing on its second last step, I studied the flowers using a magnifying glass. To my surprise I found that the flowers of those specimens were resupinate, where as in all others cases the flowers were non-resupinate. There was no limit to my joy, as the new finding is going to re-write history. Even though I was very dangerously positioned, I did all I can do to document the flowers with all its minute details.

This is possibly the only photo documentary evidence of resupinate flowers of this species, thus opening a new dimension in the study of resupination world wide.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Microstylis muscifera Ridley., Page no 20/21.

Dienia cylindrostachya Lindl.

The Plant

Terrestrial. Stem narrow, about 0.5 cm in diameter, 4 to 9 cm in height, arising from the base of a tuber of the previous year. Stem cylindrical along the lower portion, turning ribbed to the apex and with a long lanceolate sheath at its base. Leaf solitary, attached around one third from the base of the stem, elliptic, 3 to 6 cm long and 1.25 to 1.75 cm in width, the base narrowed to a long tubular petiole, which runs to the base of the stem. Inflorescence terminal, 5 to 11 cm long, raceme cylindrical, with many closely arranged (crowded) small flowers.

The Flower

Flowers non-resupinate. Sepals unequal, dorsal oblanceolate with broader base, undulate and pointing downwards; lateral oblanceolate to lanceolate with broad base, erect, slightly shorter than the dorsal. Petals much narrowed, oblong to linear, shorter or almost of the same length as that of the lateral sepals, diagonally spreading. Lip fleshy, orbicular in outline with a pointed erect apex, its margins thickened and with a converging narrow broad marginal structure running from its apex to the base under the column. Floral bract lanceolate, shorter or as long as the ovary, erect and arising from the lower base of the diagonally erect ovary.

Sepals, petals and the pointed apex of the lip yellowish green. Margins of the lip green turning pale towards its inside. Floral bract green at its base turning yellowish green towards its apex.

The Pursuit

One of the most difficult and rare to find ground orchid of the alpine region. During my theoretical research on this species I never encountered a photograph of the same taken from the region. As in the case of many other species, several research articles regarding this species added to the confusion and mismatches.

King and Pantling’s iconic work mentioned this species from an area of about 12,000 ft and blooming in July. Hence, I was hunting for this species above 10,000 ft from the mid of June. A whole week went by without any trace of the species. It was my first visit to the region and I was facing many hurdles in working in those dense forested areas. June is the month of heavy rains and it hindered my work every other day. However, as I was new to the region, every other day I was able to locate some amazing new finds.

On the third week of June, there was an alert from the meteorological department about heavy to very heavy thundershowers. As the entire region comes under the control of the Army the movement of any individuals other than locals needed prior permissions. The authorities will be very reluctant to allow any movement during those days. I was also asked not to make any adventurous moves. I was forced to be in my camp for two days in a row. I was well aware that many species were in bloom on those days, and I was restless to be closeted inside the camp. On the second day, it rained heavily all through the day till I went to sleep around 11 PM. Next morning by 5 AM, the skies had cleared and I was able to see the tall trees outside my room through the window. Sun rays were peeping through its shining green leaves. As I was surprised to see the change in weather I was out in the field in no time. My plan was to go uphill to the same location around 10,000 ft to continue in search of this species. As I was waiting for the Army convoy to go uphill, I got news that there will be no vehicular movement on that day too. As it was late to walk uphill, I decided to walk downhill in search of any other species. As downhill walk is relatively easy and quick, I covered around 2 km in no time. My attention went to an open green field some 50 ft down on the left side of the road. Every time I passed through that road that particular area had attracted my attention. A small concrete trek was there to facilitate domestic grazing, even though I never found any animals there. The trek disappears after around 20 to 25 m and the open slope stretches to a thick-forested area along the river.

On my way downhill I noticed many ground orchids spurting up, even though identifying them in their budding stage was very difficult. After the trek road came to a dead end, walking downhill was very hard. The previous two days of heavy shower made the slope very slippery. As I was not carrying my walking stick, I moved down with great caution.

As I was helping myself downhill with caution by holding on to small bushes, I noticed a single leaved plant with its inflorescence broken. I instantly identified the species with its leaf shape, as I had glanced the drawing of this species from the King and Pantling’s monumental work several hundred times. On close observation I found that 3 flowers were open on the broken inflorescence, which made me establish its identity with authenticity. Even after searching the areas around the plant I was not able to find the remaining broken part of the inflorescence. I was totally disappointed about the situation as well as surprised to find the plant in bloom at a much lower altitude and a month earlier than what King and Pantling’s findings. Determined to thoroughly search the area, I left my heavy baggage there to make my movement easy and searched most of that open green slope. My hard work never paved any result as I was not able to trace any other specimens. Finally, around afternoon I documented the plant with the broken inflorescence to make it an evidence of the species and walked back home disappointed.

Next day, it was sunnier than the previous day and I was on the open slope as early as the Sun rise, this time equipped with my walking stick. I walked down to the edge of the open area and was thoroughly searching each and every corner. Finally, after around 1 hour and 45 minutes of search I was able to locate two more specimens of this species, that too in full bloom. The inflorescence was in full bloom from its base to apex. It was such a wonderful sight to see a plant I was dreaming for, in front of me. The next couple of hours flew of in no time with drawings and photographing. Finally by late afternoon I started climbing up the slope for my trek back home. Interestingly on my climb back, I found one more specimen of this species in full bloom. Spent another hour with that too to make comparative notes and photographs.

This was one of the few species found growing in lower altitudes than what was described by King and Pantling. Interestingly, none of the research works which were published in the last few decades never mentioned about this altitudinal difference. Every research papers mentioned the altitudinal range of this species as 12,000 ft and it’s blooming in July, as mentioned by King and Pantling. These factual information emphasizes the importance of real field studies which is lacking among researchers.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Microstylis cylindrostachya Reichb., Page no 20.

Cypripedium himalaicum Rolfe.

The Plant

Terrestrial. An annular herb of about 8 to 12 cm in height from the alpine slopes. Stem and peduncle pubescent, with the former smaller in length than the former. Stem clothed at its base with 2 to 3 unequal tubular sheaths. Leaves 3 or 4, almost alternate in arranged, unequal with the lowest the smallest, ovate to elliptic, sessile with clasping base and pointed apex, 0.75 to 3.5 cm long and 0.5 to 3 cm in width, 5 to 7 strong veins and several narrow veins in between them, both the surface and its margins minutely hairy. Flower solitary at the apex of the erect peduncle.

The Flower

Flower large, 2 to 3 cm across. Sepals unequal; dorsal sepal ovate, acute, diagonally arching, laxly pubescent; lateral pair united under the lip, broadly ovate. Petals longer than the dorsal sepal, lanceolate, diagonally spreading with its apex curved forward, inner surface with many long white hairs to its base, margins pubescent. Lip saccate, diagonally pendulous, rotund in outline. Floral bract longer than that of the flower, lanceolate, arching diagonally over the dorsal sepal, arising from behind the arched short ovary, puberulosus, many veined.

The outer surface of both sepals and petals are pale brown with many darker veins and markings running all along its length; their inner surface pale brown with many irregular broken streaks and markings of dark brown paler than that of its outer surface. Lip brown but covered almost with bright reddish to purplish shade. Floral bract bright green.

The Pursuit

A plant of the high Himalayan slopes and open dry areas. Not as rare as its counter parts. I missed this species for two continuous seasons. In the third year of my alpine work, I was staying with a very good friend of mine at the highest village of North Sikkim. He was assigned with building the highest hydro power station of the country there. He was an ardent lover of flowers and lead many expeditions in the various sectors of Himalayas and was lucky enough to spot this plant few years back from the region. That year too it bloomed in the same location and he guided me to there to see it in bloom.

But my deep desire to find it from a new location prompted me to undertake difficult treks on mountain slopes. Around 14,000 ft, there are stretches of high mountains towering to above 17,000 ft in height. There are many thousand floral plants up to its two third height, the rest height is devoid of any floral growth other than rocky surface. I had climbed up to its summit several times in search of many plants. A week after I photographed this species from the location my good friend showed me, I decided to search for the species again in those high mountains at higher elevations. On the fifth day of the search, I was taking a deep ascent of those high mountains from its southern side. It was very steep and hard to negotiate. I was forced to lie down and crawl up between various spots. After a steep climb I reached a flat place which was full with blooming Iris.It was very beautiful and was taking few photographs of it. A strong wind came from the northerly direction and took my cap away. The wind threw the cap to the other side of the flattened surface. Leaving my camera and other accessories behind I tried to take back my cap which was stuck to a small Rhododendron plant on the steep side of the hill. As there were many such plants I know I will got skid down the mountain and I sat there and slowly moved on my back to reach the cap and collected it back. As I was crawling back I found something very bright coloured under that Rhododendron plant. Not one second was needed for identifying a plant like this that also when it is in bloom. I was very much satisfied with the find, but to document it on that steep slope needed for logistics. I returned to my base camp and arranged ropes and other necessary things for next days trip.

Unfortunately I haven’t got any porters to carry the ropes up the mountain and made two trips to make those heavy weighted ropes and my camera accessories reach the spot. By fixing the rope to a few Rhododendron plants and the other end rigidly on me I went down the slope and crawled under the other plant to reach the species and with much difficulty produced this photograph. I was interested in back lighting the plant to get some more details made the thing little more complicated. One flash light I fixed behind the flower rolled further down hill and disappeared inside the Rhododendron thickets. It was an expensive accessory and I wanted it back at any risk. The rope I was using was not so long for reaching any further down also. Suddenly, out of blue, a local villager appeared there. He was there to collect some herbs used for making herbal tea. I told him the unfortunate incident and he with much ease went down hill without even holding or taking support of the rope and searched the whole area and brought my flash back. Then he also encountered this species. Then came the most unfortunate incident, he puled out the whole plant from there even before I can stop him. He wanted to plant it in his home. I was sure it will not survive in his home and my find of another location of the species went in vain. I still hope on that slope there will be some more plant of this species.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Cypripedium himalaicum Rolfe., Page no 342.

Cypripedium elegans Reichb.

The Plant

Terrestrial. A small plant of about 6 to 8 cm in height from the alpine slopes. Stem and peduncle of the same length, stem stouter than the peduncle, both pubescent with the former thicker than the latter. Leaves two, arranged at the apex of the stem, opposite, orbicular to ovate, sessile, puberulosus, three to five veined, 2 to 3 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm in width. Flower solitary at the apex of the scape.

The Flower

Flower 1 to 1.5 cm across. Sepal unequal, dorsal ovate, arching puberulosus; the lateral pair united under the lip, broadly ovate. Petal lanceolate with almost round base, longer than the dorsal sepal, spreading diagonally with its apex curved out. Lip a saccate lobe, with three wavy long ridges on its upper surface, running from the base and converging around its apex, the surface around the ridges are with long laxly arranged hairs. Floral bract lanceolate, puberulosus, arising from behind the short horizontal ovary and diagonally arching over the flower.

Dorsal sepal brown with darker long broad lines converging on both sides. Lateral pale brown with irregular pinkish brown markings. Petals pale brown with dark brown base and many irregular streaks and markings of the same shade towards its apex. Lip rosy pink with dark pinkish irregular markings on the three ridges. Floral bract bright green. The puberulosus growths on the stem and peduncle shiny white.

The Pursuit

A beautiful plant seldom photographed or even spotted from the alpine slopes. During my first high altitude flower hunt, the find of this species was my priority. Accompanied by my forest guard friend, we searched several places for this species mostly around the altitude King and Pantling mentioned in their monumental work. Our search went on for months without any trace of this species. As we searched every day and discussed this species both of us got obsessed about the species to the extend that we used to yell inside the forest, “Cypripedium elegans where are you?”With the summer at its peak and alpine meadows started appearing, I moved to higher altitudes for more finds. I was having hope in finding this species from somewhere during my survey.

One day, by the mid of my high alpine search, my vehicle got some technical fault and I was forced to travel along with another set of research students in their vehicle. Their destination of work on that day was in a place I had never worked before. They were there to build a green house to study the effect of climate change. Their work was on the side of a stream with heavy water flow. As we were there, I noticed a fallen huge Abies spectabilis tree across the stream. The length of the tree was more than that of the stream and was lying flat around 2 to 3 m in height above the water surface with both its bottom rooted portion and its apex firmly fixed to either sides of the stream, thus forming a natural bridge. I thought of crossing to the other side of the stream. But I, met with many discouraging advices from the colleagues. However, I took the risk of crossing the stream and went inside the adjoining deep forest. The nature of the terrain shows that the whole area was never visited by any humans or even cattle of the near by hamlet. Before I took a few steps inside the forest itself, I spotted a few plants, which I had already found from other locations. But the presence of two very rare orchids among them increased my curiosity many fold to go inside the forest and to do a detailed survey. I was aware that I might face much wildlife from that location. The choice was left with me to either move ahead or return. My life was always filled with curiosity to explore new places and I decided to go ahead. The entire region was of Rhododendrons of hardly 1.5 to 2 m in height. As I was negotiating through thickets of Rhododendrons, crawling under them, I found three plants of this species in bloom with two of them with fresh flowers. It was the most exiting moment of my entire orchid hunt; a plant, which was seldom found, was in front of me, that too in flower during my first visit to a new location. Usually it takes several visits to various locations to see plants in bloom. The plants were so small; I had to lie down flat on that wet and moist land to have a close look at it. It took several hours to make drawings and documentations of this species. But it was worth a deal, probably that was the first time this species was documented the same way I did on that day. I was aware that those photographs of the species would be a referral photograph for many in the years to come around the globe, hence put more efforts with different lighting techniques. By that time my friends completed their work and wanted to return and were yelling and screaming at me to return. I came to the edge of the stream and asked them to return and said that I will follow later. However, to my surprise no one from that team wanted to know what the rarity I got that made me stay back on a dangerous forested place all by myself. I was taken aback by their indifference. I settled there for another 3 more hours with those two plants in bloom and produced this wonderful photograph.

The day ended memorably with a great find of a rare species and another memorable walk of around 4 hours through those winding roads of the Himalayas to reach my base camp under the darkness of a moonless night.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Cypripedium elegans Reichb., Page no 341.

Platanthera exelliana Soó.

The plant

Terrestrial. Whole plant 12 to 30 cm in height. Tubers two, elongate, cylindrical, tapering to both ends, with stout long roots arising from the base of the stem. Base of the stem sheathed. Stem cylindrical, with a solitary, oblong to oblanceolate, acute leaf, tapering to a short-sheathed base, 4 to 7 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm in width. Above the solitary leaf, another solitary, long, erect, 3 to 5 cm long and less than 1 cm in width lanceolate bract is present. Flower many in a spike longer than the stem, ridged.

The Flower

Flower large, about 1.5 to 2 cm across. Sepals equal, elliptic, dorsal diagonally erect; lateral spreading and curved back. Petals lanceolate, as long as the dorsal sepal and arranged perpendicular to it. Lip lanceolate, fleshy, pointing downwards. Spur curved, longer than the ovary, cylindrical with broadened apex. Floral bract erect, lanceolate, longer than the decurved ovary, diminishing in length to the apex of the spike, arising from the lower portion of the ovary.

Sepals green. Petals and lip yellowish green. Spur pale yellow. Floral bract green.

The Pursuit

This is a very rare species of the region, with its habitats spreading currently across Central and East Himalayas as well as China (Sichuan and Yunnan).

I too was surprised with its features and elusive nature, and made a point to put extra efforts to find it. Along with my alpine work I was concentrating above 10,000 ft in the monsoon months. We were camped in a small hamlet along the roadside. The area was totally cut off from any communication network and even electricity. Those days were the hardest of all days in the alpine region. Every day we trekked many kilometers in very hostile climatic conditions and wildlife activities. But, each day produced some exiting discoveries, which made us really happy at the end of the day. An elderly neighbour told us about two lakes at the top of a flat mountain a few kilometers from there. One day we decided to trek up there. The ascent up the mountain was so tiring. It took more than 4 hours to climb around 1200 m. At the top of the mountain, the entire topography changed to a different world. It was like a plateau with more than 15 km in length and some 8 km wide. The entire plateau was covered with hardly 1 to 1.5 m high Rhododendrons. The forest floor was full of many plants. The two lakes were not so large; they were just 40 to 50 m wide and about the same in length. As a tradition in the Himalayas, we burned some incense and prayed there and trekked ahead. We found many species of flowering plants all over the region. But something special was still missing. All those we came across were the ones I had found earlier from various regions of the Himalayas. After around 3 km of trekking I noticed an area that seemed like a small valley, which was full of Rhododendron trees. The dense growth of the plants made me think that there will be no plants inside those thickets. Hence, we moved ahead along the side of those trees. As we trekked ahead I was glanced my eyes on the forest floor for something unusual. As we were about to the transverse the last part of those thickets I found a robust plant of less than 1 ft in height. The strong features of that small plant attracted my attention and I crawled down under those thickets to it. To my surprise it was this species, just a single specimen with 7 buds of which three were in bloom. It was such a surprise that a plant believed to be very elusive was growing as elusive itself – deep inside a thick thicket of Rhododendrons. As the thickets were dense it was not at all possible to be near to the plant to make sketches or photograph it. We were left with no options other than removing the plant and bringing it out to the open area. Before doing that, we searched the whole area by crawling under those thickets on wet moist moss covered ground for about an hour in search of more plants. My assistant was able to locate 3 more plants from there, but with withered flowers. Then we decided to gently remove the plant we spotted first and made sketches and photographs from it and replanted it back at its original position. Even though I had removed a plant from its habitats on a few occasions only, each time I pay much attention not to damage it in any way. Every time, I made it a point to replanted it on the same location.

Later on, in the last year of my alpine work I found 2 more plants of this species but was not able to visit them while it was in flower.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta).Habenaria oligantha Hook., Page no 325.

Platanthera juncea (King & Pantl.) Kraenzl.

The Plant

Terrestrial. Tuber solitary, ellipsoid with many fibrous hairs. Whole plant about 12 to 20 cm in height. Stem two third of the whole plant, very slender but with a comparatively stout base which is covered with lanceolate sheaths, cylindrical; also with a narrow lanceolate erect bract around its upper third portion. Leaf solitary, arising from the base of the stem, oblong to ovate, slightly decurved at its apex, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and about 1.25 cm in width, narrowed at its base to a tubular sheath, three veined. Flower many in a spike, laxly arranged.

The Flower

Flower very small, less then 1 cm across. Sepals unequal, ovate to lanceolate; dorsal broader and shorter than the lateral, diagonally erect; lateral spreading diagonally. Petals ovate, as long as the dorsal sepal and connivent with it to form a hood. Lip longer than the sepals and petals, entire, its apex minutely decurved. Spur very small, cylindrical with broadened apex. Floral bracts narrow and erect, smaller and arising from the lower portion of the erect and twisted ovary.

The whole flower is pale green with the outer surface of the sepals a darker shade, spur pale green and translucent.

Platanthera juncea (King & Pantl.) Kraenzl.

The Pursuit

A very slender ground species of the region. A publication came out with a documentary evidence of this species; even though the photograph was not providing the details of the plant and its flowers. Hence, I was so eager to find it from its natural habitats and document it. During the first year of my alpine region work I was eagerly looking for this species. King and Pantling’s mention of its altitudinal range – 11,000 to 12,000 ft, made me put this species on the check list of “those to be found” by the second month of the alpine hunt. In the first month I was relatively working on lower altitudes, between 8,800 and 11,000 ft. As it was my first alpine hunt each day was hectic with too much trekking and lot of finds. The main road of the region was made by carving out the mountain, hence it’s both sides got supporting brick walls. Shrubs and climbers start appearing on those walls along with the first showers of the season and will get fully covered in a few weeks. I had found and documented many rare plants growing inside those shrubs and climbers. Hence, every time when I get opportunity I survey those walls. On a routine survey I found four very slender orchid plants from a thick bushy region on the walls. Its solitary leaf prompted me to think it could be this species. However, the plant was so small to properly identify. I marked the area and waited for its growth. In the coming days I visited the location twice to confirm its presence. However, on the third visit I found the entire shrubs and climbers on those walls were removed by the government officials residing there. They found a couple of poisonous snakes in their residential area and cleared all forest undergrowth from the region including my rare find. I was really disappointed with the loss but was determined to find it again.

That year went without its find. In the second year of my alpine work, I particularly visited the same location from where I found this species on the previous year. To my surprise there were again four slender plants almost at the same location. Fearing another miss due to some unforeseen reasons, we fenced that area. Every few days I visited the location to make sure no destruction has happened to my finds. Within the next week itself I was able to confirm its identity. After many visits and cautious wait I found them in flowers and made this beautiful photograph. Surprisingly on the very next day of my documentation of those four plants, heavy rains triggered landslide and the whole stretch of those supporting wall crashed down destroying all the floral population for around some 20 m length.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta).Habenaria juncea King and Pantling., 315 – 316.

Peristylus fallax Lindl.

The Plant

Terrestrial. Tubers two, ellipsoid to elliptic with a few short stout roots arising from it. Whole plant 12 to 17 cm in height. Stem more than one third of its total height with its base sheathed, cylindrical. Leaf solitary, arising around the apex of the stem, ensiform to linear, long, 5 to 8 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width, decurved, narrowed to a long tubular sheath, the base of the sheath covered by another long sheath attached opposite to it. Flower many in a spike longer than the stem, ribbed.

The Flower

Flower 1.5 cm across, facing diagonally downwards. Sepals unequal; dorsal ovate, shorter than the lateral sepals, arching; lateral oblong to ovate, diagonally spreading; petals oblong shorter and slender than the sepals and petals, connivent with the dorsal sepal, arching diagonally. Lip three lobed; middle lobe longer than the side lobes, ovate to oblong; side lobes very small, diverging, oblong with its outer margin bottlenose shaped. Spur very small, obdeltoid. Floral bracts longer than the ovary, diminishing in size towards the apex, lanceolate, erect, arising from the lower side of the curved ovary.

The whole flower including its sepals, petals and lip pale green with the outer surface of the sepals with a darker shaded margin running through its middle. Spur pale green, translucent. Floral bract pale green flushed with darker shade.

The Pursuit

It was a very bright sunny day, with no trace of any clouds. Both me and the forest guard, who was assigned to assist me, were ready for the day’s work. We travelled to the alpine region in an army vehicle every day. The road to the alpine region runs along the banks of the main stream of the valley for about 35 km. On that day we were planning to cross the stream at a location 18 km ahead and trek for another 6 km and return by afternoon. I always enjoyed the stream with its milky waters and had produced many scenic photographs of it on various days. Whenever I travel uphill I prefer to sit on the right side of the vehicle so that I can always enjoy the view of the milky waters. As I was enjoying the waters and remembering the many photographs I produced, the river turned muddy and the speed of the flow increased many fold. In seconds, the stream turned like a broad river with water level rising many feet. We understood something strange had occurred in the high hills. Our vehicle stopped there and we decided to return. It will be always safe to be cautious in the alpine hills. The vehicle returned to its base camp with other people, but we decided to take a walk back. By then we had understood that there was a cloud burst in the high hills.

As we were returning back on foot, we used the opportunity in surveying both sides of the road. We found several species but all of them were studied earlier. As we approached an ascending portion on the route, we both rested on a rock to have hot tea and biscuits we were carrying. As we were having only one cup to share the tea, I always offered my companion to have the pleasure of tea first. On this day after having his cup of tea, the forest guard was on his way to wash the cup from a small falls on the roadside. On his he accidently found this species – a single plant with several buds and a few of them in bloom. That was the first time I was also seeing the plant and was very happy for the find. We both spend more than 2 hours there searching the whole area on either side of the road and even on the banks of the river with rushing waters in vain. As we were not able to find another specimen and as we had to walk back all the way, we decided to study and document the only specimen we found. As the location was dry and open, I produced some fantastic photographs of the species.

While on the way, we both were discussing the ways and means the Almighty shows to find each species. The cloudburst in the alpine region made us abandon the uphill ride and return back on foot. If we were a few minutes late we would have returned much before the point from where we found the species, thus, may be, making the species still elusive for me.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Habenaria fallax King and Pantling., Page no 325.

Neottianthe secundiflora (Kraenzl.) Schltr. – The Alba form (New Report).

The Plant

Terrestrial. Tubers unequal, two to three with a few thin and short roots, globular to cylindrical. Whole plant 12 cm in height. Stem about one third of the whole plant, with two leaves attached to its upper part and a thin membranous long sheath at its base. Leaves linear oblong, acute, narrowed at its base to a long tubular sheath, veined, 5 cm long and 1.5 cm in width, diagonally erect. Flower many in a spike longer than the stem, ribbed.

The Flower

Flower small, 1.5 cm across. Sepals unequal, dorsal ovate; lateral sepals lanceolate, broader than the petals; petals as long as the lateral sepals, oblong; all connivent to form a diagonally curved up hood. Lip longer than the spur, decurved, apex three lobed, the middle one longer than the other two, ovate with broad base; side ones slightly diverging, oblong, shorter and slender than the middle one. Sepal, petals and lip translucent. Spur like a funnel, much broader at its apex and converging to a cylindrical blunt apex. Floral bracts lanceolate, longer than the ovary, diminishing in size upwards, arising from the lower side of the erect ovary.

Sepal, petals and lip white. Spur white with its apex turning pale creamy yellow. Floral bracts green.

Neottianthe secundiflora (Kraenzl.) Schltr. – The Alba form (New Report)

The Pursuit

I am grateful that with the discovery of this Alba form, I contributed one more new report to the scientific world of orchids. I consider this discovery as one of the most thrilling. In the last year of my alpine work in the Sikkim-Himalayas, I ventured to many unexplored areas. Every day I trekked long distances away from civilization and was very successful in finding a number of species. I was able to locate a habitat of Neottianthe secundiflora (Kraenzl.) Schltr., from a remote corner of the region. The area was very deep inside a valley where I don’t think any humans had ever ventured not to mention of any botanical explorations. As I noticed around 80 specimens in flower in a small area, I thought of extending my exploration to more areas from that valley. I was aware that I had extended my trek and exploration to unknown terrains putting myself at great risk of life and limb. I overcame my fear and decided to survey more areas. The sound of the harsh winds itself is so frightening, that even seasoned trekkers turn around. In my case I was all-alone. On that day I decided to trek ahead for another 20 minutes. Every day I kept extending my deadline further which later took a heavy toll on my heath. As the valley is above the height of tree line there were only small shrubs and visibility was very good. As I was walking over a wet area with too many Primulas in bloom, I found a single small plant in flower. It was so strange that I noticed it from among many other plants in flower. It was the only plant with white flowers there. I bend down to it for a closer look, and to my surprise it was history in making – a new discovery of an Alba. My eyes were not able to believe what I saw. I was all alone so I had to pinch myself to ascertain what I had seen not an illusion. It took some time to realize that I am really sitting in front of a new discovery.

As it was a single plant, I carefully studied and documented it without even touching it. It is always very difficult to produce technically perfect photographs of white flowers under bright sunlight. All my experience in handling and documenting small plants and flowers were to be used together to produce the best of the pictures. It took more than 3 hours for all scientific analyses and documentations. I was really exhausted with all those precise microphotography. After that I crisscrossed that area to look for more of that Alba in vain. For the next 6 days I made those long treks to the location and covered many square miles in that valley looking for more of that Alba, but that too ended without any find.

Reference:

There is no reference of this Alba in The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas by Sir. George King and Robert Pantling (1898).

Neottianthe secundiflora (Kraenzl.) Schltr.

The Plant

Terrestrial. Tubers unequal, two to three with a few thin and short roots, globular to cylindrical. Whole plant 10 to 16 cm in height. Stem about one third of the whole plant, with two leaves attached to its upper part and a thin membranous long sheath at its base. Leaves linear oblong, acute, narrowed at its base to a long tubular sheath, veined and leathery, 4 to 6 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm in width, diagonally erect. Flower many in a spike longer than the stem, ribbed.

The Flower

Flower small, 1.5 cm across. Sepals unequal, dorsal ovate, shorter than the lateral sepals; lateral sepals lanceolate, broader than the petals; petals oblong; all connivent to form a diagonally curved up hood. Lip longer than the spur, decurved, apex three lobed, the middle one longer than the other two, ovate with broad base; side ones slightly diverging, oblong, shorter and slender than the middle one. Spur like a funnel, much broader at its apex and converging to a cylindrical blunt apex. Floral bracts lanceolate, longer than the ovary, diminishing in size upwards, arising from the lower side of the erect ovary.

Sepals and petals pale rose to pink minutely flushed with white. Lip is of the same shade, but the base of it white. Floral bracts brown flushed with green.

Neottianthe secundiflora (Kraenzl.) Schltr.

The Pursuit

This is one of the beautiful ground orchids I had ever studied. Its beauty and elegance cannot be compared with any of the Himalayan orchids. Ironically, its beauty went unnoticed as it was not documented properly.

As I was in the alpine region for many months together, I had studied and documented the full cycle of many species from its spurting, growth, flowering and its speed pods. This was one of the species I followed closely, visiting it every day. In the alpine region I was unable to communicate to my dear and near ones, I made it a point there to greet all those orchid plants I discovered on a regular basis. The first find of this species was very interesting. En-route the high alpine region, there is a small hamlet. In one of those houses they were having some religious function and one of the younger members of the family invited me to join. All religious functions of the Himalayas will never be over without a great feast of non-vegetarian food and locally made brew. As I am a strict vegetarian every household of the region has trouble in feeding me. The exact thing happened there also. They got a lot of dishes but nothing vegetarian. As the people of the hills are very good host, the elderly woman of the house asked her grandchildren to collect some local plants from the banks of a stream nearby to make some dish for me. I also joined them in plucking the plants. As the children were collecting the plants I found this species growing there. The plants were very small. Even though not properly able to identify the species, it was understood that it was an orchid. One of the children remembered that it produces pink flowers in the previous season. If my memories are correct, I visited the plant every day for the next 42 days to see them in flower. However, as the leaves emerge I was able to identify the species. Then onwards it was of more anxiety and finally I produced this beautiful photograph of the species without much difficulty.

Later on, in the last year of my stay in the alpine region, I found about 80 plants of this species growing near to each other from a location very far away from any mode of road transport. May be I am the only person till date who had visited that location. I hope the species will remain there for many years to come in their undisturbed environment.

Reference:

King, G. & Pantling, R. (1898). The Orchids of the Sikkim-Himalayas. Ann. Roy. Bot. Garden. (Calcutta). Habenarias ecundiflora Hook., Page no 330 – 331.