Orchidaceae

Orchid Family
Tree-growing Orchids

Gastrochilus calceolaris (Busch.-Ham. ex Sim.) D.Don.

Shoe-shaped Belly-lip Orchid

Nepali:

This strangely named orchid is critically endangered. It grows on the lower branches of trees and is easily removed by orchid hunters. The name Gastrochilus means "belly lip". The leaves are very long and dangling. From the thickened stems, yellow and red-spotted flowers with a bulbous tip that is covered with a fringe of white hairs. It was found by accident off on a remote side trail above the ICIMOD Knowledge Park in the Phulchowki forest. The elevation was 1650m. It was seen in April during the dry season.

Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl

Comb Trudelia

Nepali: Harchur

This orchid has a very thick, stout central stem with long, leathery leaves. Short inflorescences hold two to six interesting flowers. The flowers have pale green sepals and petals with a thickened inner lip colored dark reddish-brown with a forked snake tongue at the end.  It is a Himalayan species and flowers from May through June before the monsoon. The elevation is from 1000-2400m.

Bulbophyllum umbellatum  Lindl.

Umbrella Bulb-leaf Orchid

Nepali:

This was growing off the trail to the top of Phuchowki at about 1900m. The Umbrella bulb is rare and often overlooked by those hunting orchids. It was in a very dark, moist area off the path on a lower tree branch. The elliptic-shaped leaves are thick with a cluster of small, smelly flowers emerging on a thicker stem from the central bulb. It was growing from August to September.

Dendrobium amoenum Wall. Ex Lindl.

Lovely Dendrobium

Nepali:

The Lovely dendrobium grows on a high tree branch along the Phulchowki road. They are usually seen on higher branches in trees because any lower plants would have been taken. It produces clusters of inflorescences on thin stems extending from pseudobulbs. The flowers are white and yellow with a small spot of purple at the tip. It is found in the Himalayas from elevations ranging from 1000-2000m. It flowers in the spring in early May.

Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl.

Pineapple Orchid or Densely Flowered Dendrobium

Nepali: Sunagabha

This high-growing forest beauty is hard to miss, and people often collect it in their gardens. The dense clusters of golden flowers are large, about 3.5-4cm across, so they are very showy. The leaves are thick with a long margin extending from an elongated pseudobulb. It is found in the Himalayas at elevations of 1000-2000m. The flowering period lasts from April through May.

Dendrobium longicornu Lindl.

Long-horned Dendrobium

Nepali: Bawar

This was just off the Phulchowki Road on a path that leads to Khani Gaun. Many clusters were growing on the oaks, Quercus semecarpifolia. It is a medium-sized orchid with a feathered lower lip with a yellow stripe toward the center of the flower. There were many inflorescences on each plant found on the old oak trees and rocks. The flowers were at their peak by the end of September and were found at an elevation of 2500m to 2300m.

Coelogyne cristata  Lindl.

Crested Coelogyne

Nepali: Chandi gabha

A very common orchid is found growing in forest trees at elevations of 1000-2000m. The white flowers hang in clusters. Inside, there are 4 yellow ridges. They flower in early spring from March to April. Medicinal properties are found in the juice of the bulbs. It is used to treat boils and sores on the hooves of animals.

Coelogyne corymbosa Lindl.

Clustered Coelogyne

Nepali:

An epiphytic orchid that grows on various species of trees in the Godavari forest. The center of the bright white flower has yellow triangular and ovate patterns with brown lines leading to the central part of the flower. It is found at elevations ranging from 2200-3000m. It flowers in April-May. 

Coelogyne nitida (Wall. ex D.Don) Lindl

Shining Coelogyne

Nepali:Chaandee Gaabhaa

An epiphytic orchid growing at 1600m and very similar to C. corymbosa. It flowers in early April with flowers lasting through May. The flowers are large about 4cm across with a distinct pattern in the center. It is found across the Himalayas from Uttarakhand to Bhutan.

Coelogyne fimbriata Lindl.

Fringed Coelogyne

Nepal:

An attractive "whispy" orchid with paired leaves above the main pseudobulb. I think the flower resembles a man with a handlebar mustache and shaggy beard. The single or double flowers are at the ends of the stems from the pseudobulbs. This orchid is found across East Asia and in the Himalayas. It blooms in August and September.

Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume

Foxtail Orchid

Nepali: Ghoge gava

Fox-tail orchids are so lovely that people climb dangerously high into trees to remove them. They have a long stem covered in white flowers with pale purple specks. It grows on the upper branches of trees in the forest at Phulchowki. It is also a cultivated orchid in warmer climates. This fox tail was growing at 1600m and bloomed in June 2020. 

Coelogyne prolifera Lindl.

Prolific Coelogyne

Nepali: Thur Gaaujo

This was a rescue orchid found on the road. Many orchids fall from overhanging branches onto the road or from trees that have been cut. The pale yellow flowers are very tiny, lining each stalk, and are very erect. The leaves emerge from small bulbs at the base. Flowering occurs in spring, beginning in April and May. The elevation is from 1500 to 2000m. 

Pholidota imbricata Lindl.

Rattlesnake Orchid

Nepali:

The inflorescence resembles a rattlesnake tail with crowded clusters of flowers along a long, dangling stem. The pseudobulbs are large with one or two leaves protruding from each pseudobulb. A few seed pods are shown later in the season. This is a Himalayan species that grows from 600-2900m. Medicinal uses are for reducing flatulence and other stomach disorders, and the pseudobulbs are eaten for rheumatic diseases. When mixed with mustard oil, the juices are used on swollen joints.

Pholidota articulate Lindl

Jointed or Articulated Pholidota

Nepali: Haadajojen

It has a slight fragrance and grows on lower branches of forest trees at elevations ranging from 300-2000m. It is an epiphyte that grows from a pseudobulb. The minute flowers droop from the bulbs with brownish bracts and tiny yellow centers. 

It flowers in the spring when Coelogyne prolifera is flowering. 

Vandopsis undulate (Lindl.) J.J.Sm.

Wavy Petal Vandopsis

Nepali:

This is a beautifully scented orchid that flowers in April. It was growing on a large old Quercus semecarpifolia. The wavy cream-colored flowers were photographed in April 2021 by our friend, Mahendra Limbu. The rest of the plant was found in September 2020 with the seed pods. The elevation was 1900m off the Phulchowki Road on the Khani Gaun path.

Terrestrial growing orchids

Calanthe plantaginea Lindl.

Plantain Calanthe

Nepali: Pankhaa Phool

A beautiful terrestrial orchid with a sweet scent that has pale pink or lilac in colored flowers on long sturdy stems from a rhizome. The leaves are wide and ribbed at the base of the plant. This is a Himalayan species that flowers very early in March. It is found at elevations ranging from 1500-2000m.

Platanthera japonica

Japan Habenaria

Nepali:

A ground orchid that grows in a large community. It was found next to a rocky outcrop that was protected by an overhanging rock. It is no longer there since the road workers destroyed it. It blooms in June. The long lower lip of the orchid is very distinctive. The elevation was 2300m.

Goodyera repens (L.) R.Br.

Creeping Lady's Tresses

Nepali:

An easily overlooked orchid that grows on rocks or rocky slopes. The spike is about 12cm in height with tiny white flowers. The base is a rosette of spear-shaped green and cream-colored leaves. It is found above 2700m on Phuchowki, but the range in elevation extends from about 2000m to 4000m. It flowers from July through September.

Platanthera clavigerum  Lindl.

Club-tail Habenaria

Nepali:

A tall, plentiful orchid growing next to the road below the army camp, elevation 2700m. It is a pale green orchid about 30cm in height with miniature pale green flowers that have a "tongue" hanging down. The difference between this species and a closely related one, Platanthera latilabris, is the length of the tongue. They are typically found in cold places at higher elevations from 2000 to 4000m. The flower during the monsoon season is from July through August.

Satyrium nepalense D.Don

Nepal Satyrium

A beautiful pink orchid was found near the army camp at 2700m. It has pale pink flowers that are hood-shaped with thick legs below. The stem is green and stout, coming from a underground tuber. When found, they are plentiful. They grow at the base of damp rocky areas mixed with grasses from late July through September. Medicinal uses are found in the dried powdered tubers, which are used as an energizing tonic. It is widespread through the Himalayas and even found in the Deccan Plateau.

Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz

Broad-leaved Helleborine

A tall, erect, green-colored orchid growing on the roadside. The base leaves are long and pointed, and the flowers have a bag-like base with the same-sized green flowers at the tips. As the flowers open, they are greenish with some color inside that is not seen in these photos. They were halfway up the Phulchowki road, growing at 2200m and not seeing higher. It is a widespread species from Europe to China.

Herminium lanceum (Thunb. ex Sw.) Vuikj

Lance Leaf Herminium

Nepali:

This orchid was difficult to spot because of the pale green color that looks like grass. It grows in Nepal and India from 1500m up to 3000m. The leaves are long and slender like grass. The flower is all green with two serpent-like tongues extending toward the base. It flowers from late July to into September.

Spiranthes australis (Pers.) Ames.

Chinese Lady's Tresses

Nepali:

This was found in a small grassy meadow off the Phulchowki Road on the way to Khani Gaun. It was next to the path and mixed with Satyrium nepalense. It is a fairly common orchid seen in many locations across Asia. It was flowering in September at an elevation of 2200m in a sunny location facing south.