PlantaeAsparagalesOrchidaceaeRaskotiBhakta BahadurSchuitemanAndréJinWei-TaoJinXiao-HuaA taxonomic revision of Herminium L. (Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae)PhytoKeys194201720177917410.3897/phytokeys.79.11215 Herminium pugioniforme Lindl. ex Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 130. 1890.Fig. 5I Herminium nivaleSchltr., Acta Horti Gothob. 1: 134. 1924. Type: CHINA. Sichuan, Dongrergo, Smith H., 3631 (Holotype: UPS!). Monorchis pugioniformis(Lindl. ex Hook.f.) O. Schwarz, Mitt. Thüring. Bot. Ges. 1: 96. 1949. Androcorys pugioniformis(Lindl. ex Hook.f.) K. Y. Lang, Guihaia 16: 105. 1996.Type.

INDIA. Uttarakhand, Garhwal, Dudu Glacier under Srikanta, 14000–15000 ft, 10.08.21883, Duthie J. F., 517 (Syntype: K! [K000387533]); Sikkim, Samdong, 16000 ft, 11.09.1849, Hooker J. D., s.n. (Syntype: K! [K000387531], K-LINDL!); Kashmir, Kilan Marg, 12000 ft, 08.1877, Aitchison, 106 (Syntype: K! [K000387532]).

Description.

Plant 5–20 cm tall. Tuber globose, 5–8 × 4–8 mm. Stem with 1 or 2 tubular sheaths and 1 leaf at base. Leaf oblanceolate, 2–4 × 0.4–1.2 cm, apex obtuse. Inflorescence 3–10 cm, rachis 1–4 cm, 3–20-flowered; floral bracts ovate, much reduced, shorter than ovary, apex acute. Flowers green; ovary and pedicel 4–5 mm, fusiform, apex beaked, 3–5 mm. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic-orbicular, concave, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.2 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals obovate to elliptic, oblique 1.7–2.2 × 1–1.2 mm, apex obtuse. Petals obovate, oblique, concave, 1.3–1.5 × 0.5–0.8 mm, apex obtuse. Lip narrowly lingulate-oblong, 1.5–2.0 mm long, base rather abruptly dilated, 0.6–1.1 mm wide, with two basal concavities separated by a longitudinal callus ridge, apex obtuse. Column 0.5–1 mm, anther with 2 divergent locules hooded with ca. 0.6 mm broad connective; pollinia 2, clavate, attached to ellipsoid viscidium by short caudicle; rostellum triangular; stigma gibbous, attached to base of rostellum. Fruit fusiform, 3–4 mm long.

Flowering time.

July–September.

Habitat.

Terrestrial in Abies forests, alpine grasslands, meadows and valleys at elevations of 2700–5200(–5500) m.

Distribution.

Bhutan, China, India, Nepal.

Note.

Pridgeon et al. (2001: 257) stated that this species may occur up to 5500 m, but we have not seen specimens collected above 5200 m.

Specimens examined.

BHUTAN: Gasa, Baiteng, 5040 m, 25.08.2000, Miehe G. and Miehe S., 00-329-04 (K); Gasa, Upper mangde Chu near Kitchisabo, 5190 m, 11.09.2000, Miehe G. and S., 00-368-17 (K); Tangey, lower Tsorim Chu, 4670 m, 14.09.2000, Miehe G. and Miehe S., 00-385-17 (K); Paro, Tso Phu Valley, 4610 m, 08.07.2000, Miehe G. and Miehe S., 00-175-24 (K).

CHINA: Sichuan, Songpan county, Huanglongsi, 3450 m, 30.07.2002, Luo Y.B., 853 (PE); Tibet, Bomi county, Zhamo Highway, 4200 m, 27.07.2010, Southern Tibet Expedition, STET1287 (PE); Dagze county, 5200 m, 02.09.1965, Zhang Y.T. and Lang K.Y., 2475 (PE); Damxung, Nyainqentanglha Shan, 4880 m, 11.08.1989, Dickoré B., 3753 (K); Lhasa, 5000 m, 19.08.1965, Zhang Y.T. and Lang K.Y., 1938 (PE); Lhasa, Ximala Hill, mountain, 4900 m, 10.08.1965, Zhang Y.T., Lang K.Y., 2114 (PE); Medog county, 2664 m, 08.09.2009, Southeast Tibet Expedition, SET-ET 1362 (PE); Melong Gompa, 4900–5200 m, 02.07.1932, Gould B. J., 2236 (K); Zayu county, Chawalong from meigu to Ridong, 4500 m, 17.07.2010, Southern Tibet Expedition, STET0655 (PE); Yunnan, Zhongdian, 3880 m, 11.08.1981, Beijing Hengduan Mountain Team, 3018 (PE).

INDIA: Kashmir, Mt. Kolahoi, 4250 m, Stewart R. R., 9390 (K).

NEPAL. Rasuwa, Gosaithan, 4000 m, 21.07.2008, Raskoti B. B., 20149 (KATH).

Flowers of representive species of Herminium. A H. monorchis B H. latilabre C H. forceps D H. fallax E H. lanceum F H. edgeworthii G H. monophyllum H H. quinquelobum I H. pugioniforme.

 PridgeonAMCribbPJChaseMW (2001) Genera Orchidacearum (Vol. 2) – Orchidoideae. Oxford University Press, 464 pp.