Galeola falconeri

Galeola falconeri Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6: 88 1890. ;  

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Galeola species identification : 17 posts by 5 authors.

Please confirm species of  this beautiful myco-heterotrophic orchid , there are 2 species G.falconeri and G.lindleyana from Kullu, HP.
I am not able to confirm amoung two that which Galeola is this one.
Experts please confirm species.
Pictured at Kullu,HP
Dated – 3July2017
Looks like G.lindleyana !  

Is this your photo in the last image?  

Yes sir its my photo in last image.

A very beautiful orchid, wish to see this live.. very nice pics …, wait for opinion of … also, who is presently in field, thus not able to interact much.. 

I think … is available now, i am eagerly waiting for him reply.

Finally its confirmed as Galeola falconeri with help of …
Distinguishing features between two species are here –
G.lindleyana – sepals are externally rough (rugose);
G.falconeri – sepals are  externally smooth.
(Lip shape also differs in both species.)
This is Galeola falconeri and the key is not correct. Please check the key on Flora of China to differentiate it from G. lindleyana.
 

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ORCHIDACEAE FORTNIGHT: GALEOLA FOR ID :: JS 06 : Attachments (2). 10 posts by 5 authors.
I post my lucky sighting of Galeola sp from Mishmi hills here for ID. I hope the images will serve the purpose as the close access was impossible.

this is extraordinary …
Looks like Galeola falconeri !! what was the size of flower?

As i  remember, the flower stick was as long as  220-250cm (around) and the size of flower around 4-5cm

Above 3cm flower is definitely Galeola falconeri.

Nice capture … I think leaves seen in picture belongs to different plant 

You are right … The leaves you see in the pic belongs to a climber. The stalk bearing flower stands alone and is near 300cm heighted (almost double of my height!) as it is the tallest saprophytic orchid which is also significant as endangered.

Thanks for this interesting upload …, I was also wondering about the leaves… have seen first instance of a climber on an orchid.. rare beauty.. 

 

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Galeola falconeri (Orchidaceae) : 9 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (5)

Here are the images of matured plant of rare myco-heterotrophic Orchid
Galeola falconeri
Falconer’s Galeola
Seed pods are 9 -10cms long enclosing thousands of tiny white seeds.
Photographed at Kullu District ,Himachal Pradesh
Altitude – 2100meters
August 2018

Cant confirm without flowers, but yes Galeola. 

what exactly is myco-heterotrophic ???

… myco-heterotrophic refers to those plants that live in a symbiotic relationship between certain kinds of fungi, in which the plant gets all or part of its food from parasitism upon fungi rather than from photosynthesis.
Such plant like this one generally grows in shady humus rich soil favouring fungus growth and don’t require much sunlight.

There are two types of plants based on how they produce food. Plants with green pigments (chlorophyll) basically produce their food by using sunlight and are called autotrophic plants. Plants that cant produce their own food, due to lack of green pigments are heterotrophic plants. Among them are the plants that use fungal (mycorrhizae) association to produce food. So they are called myco-heterotrophic plants.

Not just applicable to plants. All animals are heterotrophis.

yes apes and humans are too. so are the fish whales and the frogs! most everybody we know in the zoo  🙂

References:

The Plant List  

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