Cautleya spicata

There are correct images showing C.gracilis as an epiphyte in Sikkim & Darjeeling:

Thank you for your observations.

As I have said for other genera and shall keep making the point, all one can ever say is “to the best of our current knowledge/thinking” and that is liable to change.

Only by inspecting carefully and at times being encouraged, perhaps even provoked/challenged, to check more carefully can our knowledge of genera improve – which it needs to.

Yes, there will be differences of interpretation amongst botanists and taxonomist plus as this site says, we are all fallible with mistakes being made.

Clearly, most photos are not close-up.  We are often having to do our best with one or two general shots showing little more

than the ‘habit’ of the plant.

As we examine plants more closely we will find some of the descriptions within what reference books/works we have are imperfect. I regularly comment that ‘Flowers of the Himalaya’ is not a flora, covers only a fraction of the total species from the region and has brief descriptions which can only summarise the variation in each species – and this publication is now 40+ years old. Overall, the work is of a high standard but has its limitations – few members of this group have ready access to more detailed monographs covering genera in the Himalaya/India. And not everything that is published is accurate/can be relied upon.

There is a need for specialists for every genus and family present in the flora of India. Its flora has not been studied intensively. In the UK

through our Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland we have large numbers of amateur botanists voluntarily undertaking studies and surveys

to a professional standard to supplement the efforts of a limited number holding professional positions. Even with a flora (a fraction of the

size of the Himalaya’s let alone India as a whole) studied in such depth over a long period there is much still to be investigated.

Hooker and his numerous collaborators did a remarkable job compiling ‘Flora of British India’ with often scant material, which was sometimes of poor quality with non-existent field notes.  Many specimens were collected by non-field-botanists and the Indian sub-continent presents challenges climate-wise as to the thorough collection, pressing, drying and preservation of mounted specimens in herbaria.  Pity conditions are not all as favourable as the arid Trans-Himalaya.

But his work was merely a preliminary starting point and is out-of-date.

All genera in Indian incl. the Himalaya need further investigation and at times, revision.

The starting point for this is field-work, with detailed, informed observations – with, where appropriate, high quality pressed specimens with detailed accompanying field-notes.  Too many reference pressed specimens in herbaria (the world over) are inadequate – with few, if any field notes such that herbarium taxonomists have to rely on what they can observe from the dried specimens.  High quality close-up digital images can make a major contribution here especially if the photographer knows which bit of the plant matter for each genus.  The traditional general images showing the “pretty bits” often miss the crucial characteristics.  Those specialising in genera can advise others what to pay particular attention to, so the images are of greater use identification-wise.   Keen amateurs who access plants in the wild are an invaluable resource.  Another valuable source of information can be observing plants in cultivation (provided they are of known provenance and of recent introduction directly from the wild).  Such things will allow those undertaking taxonomic studies to be able to inspect fresh morphological characteristics rather than having to rely on dried specimens only.

Lots of images/records are required to understand better variation within species and between species in each genus.  Species that occur over a wide geographical and altitudinal range particularly need such studies.

Do you have any high resolution images for proper id ? Any image of the flowers ?

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This not an Orchid at all.

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Cautleya sp. ??

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I think it should be C. spicata as per keys at Taxonomic revision of the genus Cautleya (Zingiberaceae) in India with a description of a new variety (pdf)- Kizhakkethil AISHWARYA , Mamiyil SABU- Taiwania 66(1): 79‒88, 2021

Yes … it is Cautleya spicata (Sm.) Baker.

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