Orchids

 

I found this Calanthe tricarinata in some shrubs near Lamaling, Nyingchi County & Prefecture, Tibet AR in 2950m on June 14, 2011 (25)
 
 Calanthe tricarniata

Orchis wardii / Galearis wardii

Right in the guest house yard several of these Orchis wardi / Ward's orchids grew,
where the dogs and pigs roamed.
Draksum Tso, Nyingchi County & Prefecture, Tibet AR in 2450m on June 17, 2011 (27)
 
Dactylorhiza hatagirea(D.Don.) Soo Himalaya Marsh Orchid
Dactylorhiza hatagirea, the Himalaya Marsh Orchid.

Above Gyamda in several sites a dozen of these Himalaya Marsh Orchids grew along a small stream. The tubers of Dactylorhiza hatagirea are used in Tibetan medicine and other traditional oriental medicines. According to Mother Herbs the tubers are used as nervine tonic and aphrodisiac. They are also used to treat wounds, cough and anemia. They are also eaten in Kongpo but their starchy taste did not impress me.
 

All photos: Kongpo Gyamda, Kongpo Gyamda / Gonbo Jiangda County, Nyingchi / Linzhi Prefecture, Tibet AR, 3100m (10,170ft)
Photo: D.Winkler, June 17, 2011 (26).

 

 

 
Cypripedium tibeticum
A field of Tibetan lady slippers in Upper Kongpo. Probably it is Cypripedium tibeticum (King ex Hemsl. 1892). Possible Synonyms C. corrugatum C. macranthos var. tibeticum.
Kongpo-Gyomda County, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet AR, 3500m, June 2006. Photo: D.Winkler. (1)
A twin-flowered lady slipper, Cypripedium tibeticum in Kongpo-Gyomda County, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet AR. (1)
 
   A close up of the flower of the Himalayan Lady slipper. I encountered this orchid during the Summer Fungal & Floral Foray MushRoaming tour 2010.
  
Cypripedium himalaicum
A group of gorgeous Himalayan Lady slippers grew right next to the highway on Serkim La.
Photo: D.Winkler, 4500m (14,750ft), Nyingchi, Tibet AR, July 21, 2010. (2)
 
Yellow lady slipper (Cypripedium flavum)
  
Cypripedium flavum
Cypripedium flavum growing in Birong George in 3750m (11,625 ft), Shangrila County (formerly Zhongdian Xian), Dechen TAP, Yunnan, May 31, 2008. (3)
 

 
 
 
 
Cypripedium guttatum
 
 
 
I encountered these orchid during the Cordyceps-morel MushRoaming tour 2008.
 
On the left: Cypripedium guttatum is a lady slipper distributed in North America, Siberia and Eastern Asia into Tibet and the Himalayas. June 19, 2006, 4030m (13,200 ft), Meldrogonkar County, Lhasa Prefecture, Tibet AR (4)
 
 

Khampa ladies selling Lady slipper orchids (Cypripedium guttatum) along the road. (3300m, 10,200ft). Shangrila County (formerly Zhongdian Xian), Dechen TAP, Yunnan, May 28, 2008.

 

Gymnadenia orchidis 

Gymnadenia orchidis Tibet

Gymnadenia orchidis  growing above Dartsedo / Kangding close to a tiny stream in shrub lands not far from the Gye La / Zheduo Shan Highway.  3600m, Kangding County, Ganzi TAP, Sichuan, July 17, 2012.

Neottia acuminata

Neottia acuminata Tibet

Neottia acuminata orchis, a myco-heterotroph orchid found in a oak-dominated matsutake forest in Nyarong / Yajiang. It reminds me of Allotropa virgata alaso known as 'Candy stick orchid', which is feeding of American Matsutake. Yajiang County, Ganzi TAP, Sichuan, July 19, 2012.

 
 
Habenaria arietina is reported from 2300-2400m altitude in Southeast Tibet AR, Bhutan, Nepal and India in Flora of China.
Habenaria arietina
Close-up of Habenaria arietina (= Habenaria intermedia var. arietina). Being used to orchids from the temperate zone, I fell totally for these filigree flowers!
  
I encountered this orchid during the Summer Fungal & Floral Foray MushRoaming tour 2010. Photos: D.Winkler, 2470m (8100ft), Pome/Bomi, Nyingchi, TAR, July 19, 2010.(5)
 
 Habenaria purpureo-punctata growing on a rock wall next to a lily in Pome / Bomi County in 2550m (8360ft). I encountered this intriguingly purple spotted orchid several times along the highway in Pome in July 2010.
 
 
Photos: D.Winkler, Pome/Bomi, Nyingchi, Tibet AR, July 19, 2010. (6)
  
Habenaria purpureo-punctata
 
3400m, Lunang, Nyingchi, Tibet AR, July 20, 2010. (7)
 
Oreorchis?
3400m, Lunang, Nyingchi, Tibet AR, July 20, 2010.
 
On the right the same orchid growing
in 4500m (14,750ft)
This patch grew along the highway
 at Serkim La.
 
Galearis spathulata ?
A group of Galearis spathulata growing at Serkyim La in 3650m (12,000ft) in Nyingchi, Tibet AR.  
July 17, 2010,   Photos: D.Winkler (8)
All my favorites: Orchids with Mushrooms (Russula sp.) growing in moss.
  
 
 
Platanthera chlorantha?
 
This Platanthera grew in between all these cat's paw (Antennaria sp.).
On its stem base fruited a waxgill (Hygrocybe sp.). Although all orchids rely on  ectomycorrhizal symbioses, this waxgill might not be root associated with this orchid. Most orchid seeds are extremely small, they do not store resources for growth after germination, since they rely on fungi to feed their germinating seeds.
 Photo: D.Winkler, 3450m, Nyingchi, Tibet AR, July 22, 2010.  (9)
 
Gymnadenia sp.
-
 4500m (14,750ft) Photo: D.Winkler, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Pref.,
Tibet AR, July 21, 2010  (10)  



 
 
 
Epipactis royleana
This orchid grew in a meadow along a stream bed in Bachu / Bahe, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Pref., Tibet AR, (3100m / 10,170ft) Photo: D.Winkler, July 22, 2010.
  
Maybe the rain kept these flowers from opening up and revealing their beauty? Bo Chu, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet AR. (11)
Not all orchids are necessarily very attractive. This Herminiumorchid has only tiny green petals. It is probably plenty attractive to the insects that are fertilizing this bland plant.
Photo: D.Winkler, 3450m, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Pref., Tibet AR, July 23, 2010. (12)
  
Herminium monorchis
 
Here a whole group of these greenish flowering Herminium monorchis orchids. It is easy to miss such a inconspicuous flower. Photo: D.Winkler, 3450m, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Pref., Tibet AR, July 23, 2010. (12)
  
Herminium ophioglossoides
 
Herminium ophioglossoides is another inconspicuous and rather tiny orchid. It was not taller than 20cm (8 in) growing in a pasture. Gangya La / Ganjia Shankou (3250m /10,660 ft), Labrang County (Xiahe Xian), Ganlha / Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, July 4, 2010. (13)
 
Oreorchis erythrochrysea
  
Spiranthes sinensis
This Oreorchis was growing at Draksum Tso (3450m). However, when returning to Draksum Tso in June 2011 years later and checking the same spot, no sign of this Oreorchis anymore. Might have fallen victim to all the thousands of tourists passing right next to the site (14)
Photo: D.Winkler, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Pref., Tibet AR, June 20, 2006.
The spiral line-up of the flowers are unique in Spiranthes sinensis, Chinese Ladies'-tresses. Bachu / Bahe, Nyingchi County, Nyingchi Pref., Tibet AR,3100m (10,170ft) Photo: D.Winkler, July 22, 2010. (15)
 
Pleione yunnanensis
Pleione yunnanensis flowering in Birong George in approx. 3500m (11,480ft) altitude, Shangrila County (formerly Zhongdian Xian), Dechen TAP, Yunnan, May 31, 2008. (16) I encountered this orchid during the Cordyceps-morel MushRoaming tour 2008.
 
Bletilla striata
I encountered Bletilla striata in the warm river valleys of Eastern Tibet.
Wenchuan County, Aba TQAP, Sichuan, May 10, 2000.  Photo: D.Winkler  (17)
Calanthe arcuata var. brevifolia
I wished I had focused better back in August 1991.
Dzitsa Degu / Jiuzhaigou National Park, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba TQAP, Sichuan. Photo: D.Winkler (18)
 
Phaius delavayi
Phaius delavayi growing in Virgin Forest, Dzitsa Degu / Jiuzhaigou National Park. Harry Jans informed me that this cream form - usually the petals are dark red - has not been described yet.  [Harry has lot's of great plant shots on his webpages]. 3250m, July 2006, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba TQAP, Sichuan. Photo: D.Winkler  (19)
 
Peristylus?
An orchid growing out of under a rock near Genie, 3800m (12,500ft). July 31, 2007, Litang / Litang County, Kandze / Ganzi TAP, Sichuan. Photo: D.Winkler  (20)
Peristylus?
Orchid on the foot of Yulong Shan, May 28, 2008, Yulong Shan, Lijiang, Yunnan. Photo: D.Winkler (21)
 
Orchid photographed in Gongbi Botanical Garden, 3400m (11,000 ft), Shangrila County (formerly Zhongdian Xian), Gyalthang, Dechen TAP, Yunnan, July 26, 2001 (22)
To the left and above an angel-flowered orchid growing in a pine forest in 3400m (11,000 ft) in Nyezhi / Nixi District, 2750m (9000ft) below Nepung Ri Mountain, Shangrila County (formerly Zhongdian Xian), Gyalthang, Dechen TAP, Yunnan, July 25, 2007 (23)
Ponerorchis chusua
Ponerorchis chusua growing in Virgin Forest, 3250m, July 2006, Dzitsa Degu / Jiuzhaigou National Park, Jiuzhaigou County, Aba TQAP, Sichuan.  Photo: D.Winkler  (24)
 
Dactylorhiza hatagirea


 
Habenaria glaucifolia
  
Growing along a small stream below the Nunnery above Kongpo Gymda. I had no time to ID yet.
Kongpo Gyamda / Gonbo Jiangda, Nyingchi / Linzhi Pref., Tibet AR, 3100m (10,170ft) Photo: D.Winkler, June 17, 2011.(26)



 
Genie, 3600m (12,000ft). July 30, 2007, Litang / Litang County, Kandze / Ganzi TAP, Sichuan. D.Winkler  (29)
 
 
A myco-heterotrophic orchid encountered
 in Dzitsa Degu /Jiuzhaigou NP in 3450m
in July 2010, Jiuzhaigou County,
Aba TQAP, Sichuan. Photo: D.Winkler (30)
Habenaria sp.
Gongbi Botanical Garden, 3400m (11,000 ft), Shangrila County (formerly Zhongdian Xian), Gyalthang, Dechen TAP, Yunnan, July 26, 2001 (28)


 
???
 
Resources:
E-Flora China's Orchid section
Chen Singchi, Tsi Zhanhuo, Luo Yibo 1999. Native Orchids of China in Colour. Science Press Beijing / New York, 416p. (Chinese and English text).
Guan Kaiyun & Zhou Zhekun (eds.) 1997. Highland Flowers of Yunnan. Yunnan Sci. Tech. Press, Kunming, 252p.
Toshio Yoshida 2005. Himalayan Plants Illustrated. (in Japanese)
Yang Zenghong, Zhang Qitai, Feng Zhizhou, Lang Kaiyong, Li Bosheng 1993. Orchids.  China Esperanto Press, Beijing, 1993, 178p.
 
        First written: September 2010
       Last update:11-24-13
 
Link to my
         Cordyceps Expedition           
If you would like to use any of my photos please contact me.

 
 
Link: Orchid tours / Orchideenführungen, Oberpfalz:  www.naturführung.de
Not every orchid is perfect! This lady slipper has been fed on by an insect. Maybe the culprit is still sitting on top of the remanences of the lady slipper flower. May 28, 2008, Yulong Shan, Lijiang, Yunnan.

Last edited on Tue, October 16, 2018, 8:47 pm