Orchids of Bhutan Susanne Masters Outlines the Species Found in This Small Country In

The orchids in habitat Orchid Review Susanne Masters Susanne Susanne Masters Susanne Orchids of Bhutan SuSanne MaSterS outlines the species found in this small country in the Himalayas, the diversity of their Coelogyne nitida was one of the orchids featured in Bhutan’s set of orchid stamps issued in 1976 habitats, and also discusses uses of Masters Susanne orchids locally and their conservation Epiphytic Dendrobium falconeri can be seen growing on trees near Dochula Pass Susanne Masters Susanne Dochula Pass is a gateway through the mountains when heading east from Butan’s capital, Thimphu. 108 chortens on the pass commemorate Butanese soldiers killed fighting Indian rebels in 2003 Galearis spathulata, prevoiusly Aorchis spathulata, grows on damp ground, in open spaces ➤ 96 June 2015 June 2015 97 The orchids in habitat Orchid Review HuTaNEsE ORCHIds Environmental protection A diversity of habitats and 4,000m, forests are home to Masters Susanne span the alphabet from Economic exploitation of Bhutan’s Bhutan is one of the smallest countries orchid species that flower from spring BAcampe to Zeuxine. In the natural resources has been tempered in asia, occupying 384,394sq km. It through to autumn. In the subtropical capital city, Thimphu, it is easy and by legislation that prioritizes preserv- is located in the eastern Himalayas, at zone, between 150m and 2,000m, inexpensive to buy excellent, English ation. In fact, the Constitution of the the intersection of two biogeographic there are tropical and subtropical language wildlife guides, written Kingdom of Bhutan states in article realms, the warm Indo-Malayan and forests, and grasslands, and orchid by Bhutanese people able to bring 5.1 that ‘Every Bhutanese is a trustee the temperate Palearctic. altitude species can be found in flower all year. a wealth of local knowledge to their of the Kingdom’s natural resources ranges widely from 150m elevation botanical explorations. In contrast to and environment for the benefit of the in the subtropical lowlands of the Bhutanese orchids taxonomic tomes, local orchid guides present and future generations, and it south, to more than 7,500m in the There is a concentration of bio- that include photographs, such as is the fundamental duty of every citizen snow-topped mountains of the north. diversity in Bhutan including more An Illustrated Guide to the Orchids of to contribute to the protection of the This, combined with monsoon rains than 5,600 vascular plant species, of Bhutan (Gurung 2006), are invaluable natural environment, conservation of that fall predominantly in the south, which nearly 8% are orchids. Pearce if asking a local person about orchids. the rich biodiversity of Bhutan and creates a wide variety of habitats. & Cribb (2002) recorded 369 species In Bhutan, as in many parts of the prevention of all forms of ecological There are three distinct eco-floristic of orchid in Bhutan. They anticipated world, flamboyant epiphytic and degradation’. This is why, when other zones in Bhutan: alpine, temperate and that more species would be found subtropical species are considered Himalayan countries have had their subtropical. The alpine zone, above because they recorded 579 species to be orchids, while the less eye- landscapes transformed by rapid 4,000m, has no tree cover but scrub in floristically-similar areas of India catching, terrestrial, temperate and development, Bhutan has maintained vegetation and meadows, where and Nepal. These areas fall under alpine species are not known as relatively intact landscapes and orchids flower in summer. In the the same botanical country code as Above and below Pleione hookeriana is considered difficult to cultivate, and is well worth seeing in the plants of interest to orchid fans. conserved more of its biodiversity. temperate zone, between 2,000m Bhutan, ‘East Himalaya’, according wild where it can grow in abundance, here it is growing along the Dochula Pass, where it flowers in May Susanne Masters Susanne Masters Susanne Susanne Masters Susanne Bulbophyllum gamblei grows as an epiphyte or a lithophyte in broad-leafed Cephalanthera longifolia has a wide range and grows wild in Bhutan, and also forests in Bhutan, and in other countries of the eastern Himalayas in the UK where it has the common name narrow- or sword-leaved helleborine ➤ 98 June 2015 June 2015 99 The orchids in habitat Orchid Review Susanne Masters Susanne Masters Susanne Serbithang Centre, National Biodiversity Serbithang Centre, National Biodiversity Left Galearis spathulata, prevoiusly Aorchis spathulata, is an Alpine species Above left and right Cymbidium erythraeum Above Dendrobium fimbriatum is often used as decoration on temple altars has fragrant flowers with red markings Below Dendrobium nobile grows in east Asia and is used in Chinese medicine Left and below Cymbidium erythraeum in Susanne Masters Susanne cultivation in Bhutan. The flowering stems are collected for use before the flowers fully open National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang Centre, National Biodiversity National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang Centre, National Biodiversity to the International Working Group found in more locations. Furthermore, that is beyond the scope of this article. (4), Cryptochilus (2), Cypripedium (4), species, including Epipactis helleborine, shoots of Cymbidium erythraeum, on Taxonomic databases (TdWG). orchid taxonomists may soon be able Gurung (2006) states that 100 genera Epigenium (4), Esmeralda (2), Eulophia and alpine species such as Galearis C. hookerianum, C. iridioides and Gurung (2006) records 423 species to contribute to Bhutanese orchid of orchids grow in Bhutan. However, (2), Gastrochilus (5), Habenaria (7), spathulata (Gurung 2006). However, C. elegans var. elegans, which are found in Bhutan and, despite having spent discoveries without travelling to since 2006, some genera listed below Herminium (6), Ione (3), Listera (3), collation of various sources adds on markets as seasonal vegetables, decades seeking orchids in Bhutan, Bhutan, as a project to digitize Bhutan’s have been merged with others. The Luisia (2), Malaxis (6), Neottia (3), taxa to some of these genera. For referred to as ‘ola-choto’ or ‘ola- notes that the east, west and south herbarium specimens is beginning. largest, in terms of number of species Neottianthe (2), Nervilia (3), Oberonia (7), example Gurung (2006) includes only tshae’. They are added to pork stew remain relatively under-explored, so Once digitized, specimens that are are: Bulbophyllum (31), Dendrobium (21), Odontochilus (3), Oreorchis (2), Otochilus Epipogium roseum, but Pearce & Cribb and provide a slightly bitter flavour, more species may be native to Bhutan. not identified to species level will be Cymbidium (16), Eria (16), Coelogyne (2), Panisea (4) Peristylus (3), Phaius (4), (2002) reported E. aphyllum, and the or they are cooked with chillies and Numerous species have been circulated for identification online. (13), Calanthe (11), Liparis (11) and Pholidota (4), Platanthera (8), Pleione Thunder dragon Orchid Conservation yak cheese, two key ingredients in recorded from single localities Goodyera (10) (Gurung 2006). Genera (4), Thrixspermum (2), Vanda (5) and Project also report E. japonicum. Bhutan. Coelogyne cristata flowers are including Bulbophyllum sterile, Calanthe Recorded orchid species with more than one species occurring Zeuxine (5) (Gurung 2006). also consumed and can be found on yuksomnensis, Didymoplexis pallens, The ongoing digitization work, and in Bhutan include: Acampe (3), Aerides The remaining 55 genera are Species of orchid used as food markets. Esmeralda cathcartii and Neottia microglottis and Panisea uniflora. taxonomic changes since 2006, mean (3), Agrostophyllum (2), Anoectochilus represented by one species in Bhutan. Orchids are put to various socio- Dendrobium hookerianum flowers have as orchid-orientated explorations of that a taxonomic update on Bhutan’s (2), Cephalanthera (2), Cheirostylis (4), These include subtropical species economic uses in Bhutan. Many are been observed on vegetable markets Bhutan continue, these species may be orchids will soon be due. However, Chiloschista (2), Chusua (2), Cleisostoma such as Rhynchostylis retusa, temperate used as food, including flowering although their sale is less common. ➤ 100 June 2015 June 2015 101 The orchids in habitat Orchid Review Young stems and flowers of Calanthe Orchids used as medicine have documented uses in traditional accessible and hydro-electric power species are not only edible but also Convention on Biological diversity – plantaginea and C. triplicata are Various orchid species are used in medicine systems used in the projects are important components used as an active ingredient in a skin in Bhutan by developing experience collected and used as food, but they traditional medicine, which is an Himalayan region and it is likely that of economic development, but have care product developed by a swiss in how such initiatives work. are rarely available on markets. This important component of healthcare these orchids have similar uses in a negative impact on orchids. company. The first payment from Bhutan’s National Biodiversity may be because Calanthe flowers are in remote areas. Gymnadenia orchidis Bhutan, which have not yet been Working in conjunction with the sales of Cymbidium flowers was used Centre is seeking funding to support easily damaged so not suitable for is referred to as ‘wangla’ in Bhutan. noted in scientific literature. Orchids construction process, under the to establish

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