ORCHIDACEAE
Diplomeris D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 26 (1825).
By: Lokesh R. Shakya
Taxon Description
Terrestrial, deciduous herbs. Tuber spherical, neck with roots. Stem short. Leaves 1 or rarely 2, oblong to ensiform, pubescent or glabrous. Inflorescence 1- or 2-flowered. Sterile bracts absent. Flowers resupinate, large. Sepals subsimilar, free, spreading. Petals much larger than sepals, entire. Lip adnate to base of the column by a long claw, spreading, broad, entire or minutely 3-lobed at apex, with a long spur. Column very short; rostellum large, erect, membranous, anther locules parallel, pollinia 2, subcylindrical, curved, caudicles very long, cylindrical, curved; viscidia minute, discoid, stigmas 2, elongate, oblong, parallel.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 4 species, distributed in Himalayas to S China. One species in Nepal.
Diplomeris hirsuta (Lindl.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 330 (1835).
Diplochilus hirsutus Lindl., Bot. Reg. 18: 1499 (1832).
Plants 3–9 cm. Tubers more or less spherical to ellipsoid, 6–9 X 5–6 mm. Stem sparsely pubescent. Leaf 1, sometimes with a second, smaller, subopposite leaf, basal, oblong, 3–7.5 X 2–3 cm, base minutely cordate, subacute, sessile, stiffly pubescent, sheathing at base. Inflorescence 5–6 cm, pubescent. Fertile bracts ovate, shorter than the ovary, pubescent, acute. Flowers uniformly white, 2.5 — 3.5 cm across. Pedicel and ovary narrowly oblong, sparsely pubescent, ca. 12 mm. Sepals ovate-oblong, 1.5 X 0.6–0.7 cm, 5-veined, sparsely pubescent, dorsal sepal broader than lateral sepals. Petals orbicular-reniform, 18–20 X 17–20 mm, subacute. Lip simple, 2–2.3 X 2.2–2.4 cm, apical lobe broadly ovate-orbicular, apex broadly 2-lobed, emarginate, mucronate, spur funnel shaped at base, cylindrical below, curved, ca. 6 cm. Column ca. 6 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya.
Altitudinal range: 100-1300 m
Ecology: On open as well as shady place.
Flowering: July — August