Orchids of Bhutan

1 2

The orchid Chamaegas- partner where both the and the fungus [1] The lush forests of Haa are steaming with trodia was established in the Botanical benefited. Today, we are not so certain about humidity during the monsoon season Magazine (Tokyo) by the Japanese botanists this definition, and it appears that the orchid (June–September). Fumio Maekawa and Tomitaro Makino is the sole benefactor of this arrangement. In [2] during the rainy season the leech popu- (1935). The genus is based on a collec- other words, the term “mycotrophy” (living lations have a busy time, causing hikers tion made in August 1889 by S. Matsuda, in partnership with a fungus) is not really ac- to frequently remove leeches. from the Kawachi Province on the Shikoku curate and the term “mycoparasitic,” which [3] Odontochilus poilanei, the first plant of the island of Japan. A plant without flowers better describes what actually happens, has second species in this genus ever found had also been found by Makino prior to the been used by Ormerod (2005). Matsuda collection, which was described Despite being a small group of , in Bhutan, growing among pine needles in the Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) as Gas- there is a complex and confusing taxonomic in forests of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii). trodia shikokiana Makino (1892). When a history behind these enigmatic orchids. floral analysis was made of the Matsuda We are not going to deal with that issue a survey of the orchid flora of the Toorsa collection, however, the authors realized here however, but it can be studied in other Strict Nature Reserve, in the district of Haa. that this orchid resembled some member articles (e.g. Seidenfaden 1978, 1994). Cur- This is located in the extreme western part of Gastrodiinae in habit but “seems better rently, the two Bhutanese species of this of Bhutan and the projected area of interest to transfer to subtribe Physurinae in having complex that we are looking at here are was the luscious forests around the small the branched (not tuberous) rhizome, gale- placed as mycoparasitic members of Odon- village of Shebji. This isolated settlement ate perianth, and capsules resemble much to tochilus (Ormerod 2002, 2005). We suspect can only be reached by a meandering trail Goodyera” (Maekawa and Makino 1935), that the last word has not been said about down a steep mountainside when approach- hence becoming Chamaegastrodia shi- this placement and future revisions may tell ing from the east (or from anywhere, for that kokiana (Makino) Makino & F. Maekawa. a different story. matter). A small farm road is currently being This orchid is what traditionally is known In September 2011 a group of dedi- constructed, but is likely to take some time as a saprophyte (living on dead material), cated botanists and staff members from yet to finish due to seasonal torrential rain, lacking chlorophyll altogether and depend- the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) in geographic challenges and lack of funds. ing on a fungus partner for survival. It was Serbithang, together with equally enthusi- But what takes a toll in physical strength long believed that saprophytic plants existed astic forest rangers from the Department is compensated by the scenic and botanical in a symbiotic relationship with a fungus of Forest and Park Services, participated in rewards along the way.

150 Orchids march 2013 www.AOS.org II. To Be or Not To Be a Chamaegastrodia text and photographs by stig dalstrÖm, ngawang gyeltshen, Choki gyelTshen, THomas HÖijer and jangchu wangdi

3 During the planning of this trip, some drama, the ladies in the group, Tshering References experienced Bhutanese rangers described and Wangmo, discovered something else Champion, H.G., and S.K. Seth. 1968. Vegetation Types of India. Department of Botany, Osmania University, the hike as “quite a climb,” and this proved that caught their attention. It looked like an Hyderabad, India. true in many ways. Not only did the an- orchid, but not like any orchid we had seen Maekawa, F., and T. Makino 1935. Dua Genera Nova nual monsoon linger with daily showers before. This plant had a delicate inflores- Orchidacearum Japonensium. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) of cold rain, which turned the steep trails cence emerging directly from the leaf mold 49:596–599. Makino, T. 1892. Gastrodia shikokiana. Bot. Mag. (To- into muddy and slippery creeks, it also on the ground, but with no leaves visible. kyo) 6:48. provided excellent opportunities for the After some consultation with the Orchids Ormerod, P. 2002. Taxonomic Changes in (Or- local leech population to feast on foreign of Bhutan treatment by Pearce and Cribb chidaceae: ). Lindleyana 17(4):189–238. _. 2005. Notulae Goodyerinae (II). Taiwania 50(1):1–10. blood. To make matters worse, a 7.0 (on the (2002), we concluded that it had to be an Pearce, N.R., and P.J. Cribb. 2002. The Orchids of Bhutan. Richter scale) earthquake hit the area in the Odontochilus (formerly Chamaegastrodia) Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and the Royal Gov- early evening when we, after eight hours asraoa, a rare species recorded only once ernment of Bhutan. of trudging, slipping and sliding, finally before in Bhutan. Seidenfaden, G. 1978. Orchid Genera in Thailand 6. Dansk Bot. Ark. 32(2):59–60. had the distant lights of Shebji in sight, In May 2012, another NBC orchid _. 1994. The Genus Chamaegastrodia (). Nord. glimmering across a deep ravine. Due to expedition set out for the Sakteng Wildlife J. Bot. 14(3):293–301. some miraculous blessings from the local Sanctuary (SWS) in the Tashigang District deities no member of the expedition was of the far eastern part of Bhutan. This region Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank the Government of hurt in the calamity that followed. It left includes the remote villages of Merak and Bhutan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests a reminder, however, of how vulnerable Sakteng where the inhabitants are known for granting the necessary permits, the administra- we are when Mother Nature decides to as Brokpas, nomadic people who herd tion and staff of the National Biodiversity Center shake off the fleas from her green blanket. yaks and generate income through the sale for arranging the expeditions and logistic support, Later reports of thousands of casualties of dairy products. In an effort to preserve and the Brokpas for their amazing friendliness and help with carrying our heavy equipment across the from the nearby Sikkim area of India and and protect this unique culture, the govern- mountains. We also thank the Sarasota Orchid Soci- devastation of houses in the district of Haa ment of Bhutan initially tried to prevent all ety, Karen and Gene Schunk, and, last but not least, were a grim reminder of what could have contact between Brokpas and the outside Sharon and Russell Stephens for administrative as happened to us. world. This did not work because younger well as generous financial support. The area surrounding Shebji can be people had a grasp on what was going on Stig Dalström is a research associate at described as “Subtropical broad-leaved hill outside their borders and wanted to leave Lankester Botanical Garden, University forest mainly composed of broad-leaved the area. Since then the government has of Costa Rica, Cartago, Costa Rica, and largely evergreen high forest” (Champion changed its policy completely and a limited National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, and Seth 1968). Rhododendron, oaks and eco-friendly tourism is now under way. Thimphu, Bhutan. 2304 Ringling Boulevard, bamboo thickets dominate some areas, This is organized in collaboration with Unit 119, Sarasota, Florida 34237. (email mixed with a diversity of many other trees, the local people, who now have greatly [email protected]; website www. shrubs and herbs, and lots of orchids. appreciated additional sources of income wildorchidman.com). Some of the most common orchid from managing camp grounds, leading Ngawang Gyeltshen is a forest officer species in bloom were Bulbophyllum cylin- tours and working as guides and porters in in the Biodiversity Inventory Section, Wild- draceum, Bulbophyllum guttulatum, Coelo- the rugged terrain. life Conservation Division, Department of gyne barbata, Cymbidium erythraeum, Our local host for this trip was Jangchu Forests and Park Services, Thimphu, Bhutan Dendrobium chrysanthum and Dendrobium Wangdi, a park range officer with a pas- (email [email protected]). hookerianum. We also saw an occasional sion for orchids. Jangchu is working on an Choki Gyeltshen is a biodiversity of- Anthogonium gracile, Bulbophyllum bise- illustrated field guide to the local orchid ficer in the National Biodiversity Centre, tum and Spathoglottis ixioides along one flora and a collaboration with the NBC was Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Ser- of the local trails, together with many other immediately agreed on. (The physically bithang, Thimphu, Bhutan (email chokig@ orchids without flowers that we brought demanding hike through the SWS will be gmail.com). back to the Royal Botanical Garden in covered in a separate article, including Thomas Höijer is a research associ- Serbithang for cultivation and identifica- some appetizing samples of the rich orchid ate at the National Biodiversity Centre, tion. The preserved orchid specimens with flora.) Some 50 species had been recorded Serbithang,Thimphu, Bhutan. Däckelvägen flowers were deposited in the National by Jangchu prior to our hike. We added at 59A, 17758 Järfälla, Sweden (email hoei- Herbarium (NBC). least 15 more by just walking through and [email protected]). At one point when the group was ex- observing, and an additional five to 10 spe- Jangchu Wangdi is a park range of- ploring a steep slope in the daily drizzle cies have since been found by Jangchu. ficer at the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, a snake appeared in front of our feet. Not In September 2012, a second mycopar- Tashigang, Bhutan (email jwangdi22@ knowing what it was but curious to learn, asitic Odontochilus species was discovered yahoo.com). by Jangchu in the Sakten Wildlife Sanctu- some of us began chasing it through the [4] Dendrobium chrysanthum in its glorious shrubbery. There are several species of ven- ary. This time it was found growing among splendor. omous elapids reported from Bhutan, such pine needles in forests of chir pine (Pinus [5] with a little help from friends, exploring as cobras, kraits and coral snakes, so some roxburghii) near the Joenkhar village at an caution was required. Eventually, Choki elevation of 6,070 feet (1,850 m), and amid for orchids is both easy and fun. was able to pin it down with his umbrella leaf litter of Castanopsis hystrix in close [6] Odontochilus asraoa, a mycoparasitic and we could take a closer look at the reptile proximity of the orchid house at the SWS species growing in leaf mold near Shebji, and get some photographs. It turned out to Head Office in Phongmay. This is the first at an elevation of 5,250 feet (1,600 m). be a harmless cobra mimic. While some of record of Odontochilus (formerly Chamae- [7] Coelogyne barbata, locally common but us guys entertained ourselves with this little gastrodia) poilanei for Bhutan. tricky to reach.

152 Orchids march 2013 www.AOS.org 4 5

6 7