Didymoplexis pallens Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 4: t. 17 1844. (syn: Apetalon minutum Wight; Arethusa bengalensis Hemsl. [Invalid]; Arethusa ecristata Griff.; Cheirostylis kanarensis Blatt. & McCann; Didymoplexis brevipes Ohwi; Didymoplexis subcampanulata Hayata; Didymoplexis sylvatica (Blume) Garay; Epiphanes pallens (Griff.) Rchb.f.; Gastrodia pallens (Griff.) F.Muell.; Leucorchis minuta (Wight) Blume; Leucorchis sylvatica Blume); . Common name: Crystal Bells, Pale Didymoplexis . Afghanistan to SW. Pacific: Afghanistan, Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, China Southeast, Christmas I., East Himalaya, India, Japan, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, Niue, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Sri Lanka, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Australia (from POWO) . Rhizomatous saprophytic herbs, rhizome to 8 cm long, narrowed to the apex; stem erect, 5-12 cm long; sheaths loose. Raceme terminal, 4-8 flowered. Flowers erect, dull yellowish-white, 1-1.4 cm long. Sepals and petals connate into a 2-lipped tube, the dorsal sepal and the petals forming a 3-fid upper lip, the lateral sepals a 2-fid or entire lower lip and forming a mentum with the foot of the column. Lip stipitate, membranous, yellowish-white, about 5 mm long, with raised sides, transversely or obcuneately oblong. Disk papillose. Column curved, widened at the top with two short pointed auricles. Anther low, shortly stipitate; pollinia 4, reniform with thick gland; column-foot curved, 2-3 mm long; caudicle and gland absent. Flowering and fruiting: December-May Evergreen forests Widespread throughout Indo-Malesia (Attributions- Dr. N Sasidharan (Dr. B P Pal Fellow), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi’  July2015sk01/01 — Didymoplexis pallens Griff. : 7 posts by 2 authors. I have received (in a personal mail) a flower pic which looks like the flower pictures in the following links – I have requested the owner to give me permission to share it in our group, for we haven’t it in eFI yet. Meanwhile, I request experts to help me by informing if there is any similar looking flower(s) Interesting species … The Book “Plants of Indian Botanic Garden” by H.J.Chowdhery & D.S.Pandey (2007) page-96 informs that Didymoplexis pallens Griff. is a saprophytic, leafless, ephemeral delicate, tuberous terrestrial herb, 5.5-60 cm tall. Fls white. Fls and Frt in May-July. More interesting fact is that the species was described from Royal (now Indian) Botanic Garden Sibpore Calcutta in 1844. Recollected from garden after a long interval in 1885, 1889. Disappeared again and was recollected in 1960, 1979 and lastly in 2005. Pics are also given in the book. Though it has to be confirmed whether the pics are of D.pallens or not which is difficult without seeing the pics. I attach herewith the flower image. I thank … very much for sharing it. Attachments (1) I attach herewith the flower picture I have received and the entry in Bengal Plants. … informs me that he recorded it in CKBS in April, near a bamboo thicket. I had been once in CKBS, the place is a popular to birders. FBI also records that the species is found in bamboo jungles. Sorry, …, forgot to inform about CKBS, it is Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary, info can be found in – It is indeed looking like Didymolpexis pallens Griff. Thank you very much Sir, now I’m dying to see it physically! There is no chance of disappearance. Just that no one searched it during that period thoroughly. Most of the mycotrophic plants are very sensitive and they dont flower every year. Its matter of chance to be there at the time when the plant is flowering. If you know the exact location then go every year, and for sure if it is there you will see it atleast once in three years !! Its supposedly a commonly plant, distributed from Asia to Australia. Thank you … for posting this image in eflora!
Unknown ground orchid from Assam KD 02 2016 : 7 posts by 5 authors. Attachments (9) Date :06.05.2016 Pl. check with images of Didymoplexis pallens Yes this is Didymoplexis pallens Griff……………… I support Didymoplexis pallens Yes this is Didymoplexis pallens. |
Didymoplexis pallens
Updated on May 21, 2025