Epipactis (Orchidaceae) species for ID: July 2015_DSR_2 : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3)
This wild ground orchid was shot in Munsyari (Uttarakhand) area at an elevation of 2250m, growing with other herbage on a slope.
Epipactis gigantea Dougl. ex Lindl. and Epipactis royleana Royle ex Lindl. are two close possibilities. Some literature indicates them as same species but TPL 2013 considers them as separate.


Epipactis royleana is a distinct species and I think this is royleana only…

A bit confusing so I will recheck…..


Thank you … Being E.royleana it is another addition to our database of eFI.


Please see the pics of Epipactis which I had previously thought as E. royleana.
The one photographed by … in Kashmir looks more like Epipactis mairei, which has a pinkish color, open light brown lip. It has been reported from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China.

See: http://www.orchidspecies.com/epipmairei.htm
and http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200028658

Epipactis gigantea only grows in western USA and looks quite different.


… plant is also Epipactis royleana as per further comments by … at Epipactis (Orchidaceae) species for ID


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Fwd: Epipactis (Orchidaceae) species for ID : 2 posts by 2 authors.

Please see the pics of Epipactis which I had previously thought as E. royleana.
It grows in Kashmir but too rare.


Epipactis royleana


I don’t think that this is Epipactis royleana, which has uniformly purple, rather closed and hanging flowers, with the seed pods often swollen up (due to self-pollination?); see http://www.orchidspecies.com/epiproyleana.htm, etc.
I rather think that it could be Epipactis mairei, which has a pinkish color, open light brown lip. It has been reported from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China.
See: http://www.orchidspecies.com/epipmairei.htm
and http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200028658


I am a bit confused. Need to check further as I said before, but then I forgot.

According to some references, Epipactis royleana is not found in India but Epipactis gigantea is. According to other references, Epipactis gigantea is not found in India but Epipactis royleana is!!!
Wow so great life!!!!
Now where do I get the specimens to study?
Deva and Naithani (1986) and Jalal (2011) do not list E. royleana in their books!!


I am sorry for the confusion, but more research showed that this one in Kashmir is the typical Epipactis royleana, and not Epipactis mairei. In the Kew Magazine I found an article with a detailed description of royleana, and a comparison of the lips of royleana and mairei. In the below drawing, compare the drawings of the lips of royleana = D and mairei = J . The lip of mairei lacks the prominent wings (= calli) that royleana has. The description of the colors also matches royleana.

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I got confused because the Epipactis royleana that is in cultivation in the west (and in my garden) looks different, being completely purple and with a more closed flower, and also because a picture said to be of Epipactis mairei on Flora of China website is probably a royleana (http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200028658).

The one in cultivation here in Europe is an atypical form, possibly originating in the eastern Himalaya or China.
For those who have trouble accessing JSTOR, I insert the whole description from the article:

 


 

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Plant for ID from Paddar valley J&K: 071111 SRANA 03: Request for Identification:

Date: 6th August 2011
Location: Paddar valley Kishtwar J&K.
Altitude: 2647 meters asl
GPS: 33.34 N and 76.20 E
Plant habit/habitat: Wild herb
Plant height: 1-3 feets


Can this plant be
Bot name: Epipactis royleana
Attaching another picture for confirmation.


Can you share some more pics plz along with the pic of whole plant. It can be either of Epipactis royleana or E. gigantea.


This definitely isn’t a typical royleana, which has uniformly purple, rather closed and hanging flowers, with the seed pods often swollen up (due to self-pollination?); see http://www.orchidspecies.com/epiproyleana.htm, etc.
I rather think that it could be Epipactis mairei, which has a pinkish color, open flowers with a light brown lip. It has been reported from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China.
See: http://www.orchidspecies.com/epipmairei.htm
and http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200028658 


This is a typical Epipactis royleana due to the wing like callus on the lip. The purple one that I assumed was typical is atypical. My excuses for the confusion. See my discussion and description of Epipactis royleana and mairei in another post in this group: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/indiantreepix/xiGLi4IGeKk/hdzAz76XAgAJ


 

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