ORCHIDACEAE
Galearis Rafinesque, Herb. Raf.: 71 (1833).
By: Lokesh R. Shakya
Taxon Description
Plants terrestrial, rhizomatous, lacking tubers. Stem erect, with one or two membranous basal sheaths. Leaf 1, ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, sheathing at base. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, rachis short, sterile bracts absent, floral bracts foliaceous. Sepals and petals subsimilar, dorsal sepal and petals forming hood. Lip simple, without lobes or 3-lobed, spurred. Column very short; anther erect, with two parallel locules, pollinia 2, granular, sectile, caudicle slender, viscidium oblong.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 10 species, distributed in Himalaya to Russia, Subarctic America to N Central and E USA. Two species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a Lip 3-lobed, spur as long as ovary (8 mm) …………………1. G. roborowskii
b Lip simple, spur shorter than the ovary (2–2.5 mm) ……….. 2. G. spathulata
1. Galearis roborowskii (Maximowicz) S.C. Chen, P. J. Cribb & S. W. Gale., Comb. Nov. Fl. China 25: 92 (2009).
Orchis roborowskii Maximowicz, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg ser. 3, 31: 104 (1887).
Plants 9–16 cm tall. Rhizome slender, branched. Stem 1.5–3 cm, glabrous, basal sheath solitary, tubular, 1–1.5 cm. Leaf elliptic-lanceolate, 4.5–11 X 0.9–2 cm, petiole 1.5–4 cm, channeled, sheathing at the base. Inflorescence 7–13 cm, laxly 1–3-flowered, rachis 1.5–3.5 cm, glabrous. Fertile bracts lanceolate, 15 X 5 mm, as long as or longer than pedicel and ovary. Flowers purple, 1.5 cm across. Pedicel and ovary slender, twisted, 8 mm. Sepals subsimilar, 3-veined. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 7 x 4 mm. Lateral sepals slightly falcate, ovate-lanceolate, 8 X 4 mm, acuminate. Petals lanceolate, 7 X 3 mm, lightly 3-veined. Lip broadly oblong, 3-lobed, midlobe triangular, 10 X 8 mm, lateral lobes with 3 wavy, margins, 3 X 4 mm, spur 8 mm, as long as pedicel and ovary. Column 4 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma.
Altitudinal range: 2000 – 4000 m.
Ecology: Alpine meadows.
Flowering: June — August
2. Galearis spathulata (Lindl.) P.F. Hunt, Kew Bull. 26: 172. 1971.
Gymnadenia spathulata Lindl, Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 280 (1835).
Plants 8–13 cm tall. Rhizome slender, branched, 1.4–1.7 cm. Stem 5–8 cm, glabrous, basal sheaths 2, tubular, lower ca. 6 mm, upper 1.5–2 cm. Leaf elliptic-lanceolate, 6–11 X 1.4–2 cm, petiolate; petiole 1–2.5 cm, channeled, sheathing at the base. Inflorescence 5–9 cm, laxly 1-or 2-flowered, rarely 3-flowered, rachis 1–2 cm, glabrous. Fertile bracts lanceolate, 10–13 X 2–3.5 mm, acute, longer than pedicel and ovary, margins minutely glandular. Flowers purple, ca. 1.2 cm across, lip purple-pink. Pedicel and ovary slender, twisted, 8 mm. Sepals subsimilar, 5-veined. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 7 X 2–3 mm, acute. Lateral sepals slightly oblique, oblong-ovate, 7 X 2–3 mm, acute. Petals ovate, 5 X 2–2.5 mm, acute, 3-veined. Lip simple, broadly elliptic to ovate, subacute to obtuse, 3-veined, 6 X 3 mm, spur 2–2.5 mm, shorter than pedicel and ovary, straight or slightly curved, obtuse. Column 2 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma.
Altitudinal range: 3740 m.
Ecology: On open pasture slope.
Flowering: June.