ORCHIDACEAE
Neottia Guett., Hist. Acad. Roy. Sci. Mem. Math. Phys. (Paris, 4to) 1750: 374 (1754).
By: Lokesh R. Shakya
Taxon Description
Plants terrestrial, autotrophic or holomycotrophic. Rhizome short, rarely elongated creeping with short or long, filiform or fasciculate roots. Stem erect, glabrous, rarely puberulous, usually sheathed. Leafless or leaves 2, opposite at stem apex, usually broadly orbicular or cordate. Inflorescence racemose, laxly or densely few- to many-flowered; peduncle and rachis usually pubescent, peduncle with or without sterile bracts. Flowers resupinate, rarely non-resupinate, green or greenish yellow, rarely yellowish brown. Pedicel and ovary usually pubescent. Sepals similar or subsimilar, usually spreading, lateral sepals falcate. Petals narrowly oblong, spreading. Lip spreading forward or pendulous, shape various, base usually narrow and apex broad, apex deeply or shortly 2-lobed, rarely entire or ciliolate. Column suberect, slightly arcuate, without foot, pollinia 2, granular, without caudicles, stigma subterminal.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 70 species, distributed in E and N Asia, Europe and N America. Nine species in Nepal.
Key to Species
1a Plants holomycotrophic, lacking green leaves …..……………………………………………2
b Plants autotrophic, with 2 green leaves……………………………………………………….. 4
2a Flowers non-resupinate. Lip ovate, entire …………………………………… 1. N. acuminata
b Flowers resupinate. Lip narrowly oblong or obovate-oblong, deeply 2-lobed ………………. 3
3a Sepals elliptic-ovate. Lip lobules subovate …………………………………. 3. N. listeroides
b Sepals lanceolate. Lip lobules lanceolate …………………………………………. 8. N. tenii
4a Rhizome elongate, creeping. Stem 15–25 cm. Leaves 5–7.5 X 4–5.5 cm. Lip sinus with a distinct tooth ………………………………………………………………… 5. N. mucronata
b Rhizome short. Stem 6–14 cm. Leaves 1–3.5 X 0.7–3.5 cm. Lip sinus without tooth or tooth indistinct ………………………………………………………………….………………… 5
5a Lip without sheath. Lip lobules deltate …………………………………..….. 2. N. chandrae
b Lip with sheath. Lip lobules oblong, ovate or suborbicular ……………………………….. 6
6a Stem puberulous. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic. Lip wedge-shaped to obcordate ………………………………………………………………………………..….. 9. N. tenius
b Stem glabrous. Leaves ovate-cordate or orbicular-ovate. Lip suboblong, linear-lanceolate or obovate-cuneate ………………………………………………………………………………. 7
7a Stem sheath 2–4 cm above rhizome. Lip linear-lanceolate, apex shortly 2-lobed ……………………………………………………………………………… 6. N. nepalensis
b Stem sheaths basal. Lip suboblong or obovate-cuneate, deeply 2-lobed ………………..…. 8
8a Leaves subsessile. Sepals and petals spreading widely. Lip suboblong …….. 4. N. longicaulis
b Leaves sessile. Sepals and petals not spreading widely. Lip obovate-cuneate ……………………………………………………………………………….. 7. N. pinetorum
1. Neottia acuminata Schltr., Acta Horti Gothob. 1: 141 (1924).
Aphyllorchis parviflora King & Pantl.
Plants leafless, holomycotrophic, ca. 21 cm. glabrous. Rhizome short with many fibrous, fasciculate roots. Peduncle 14 cm, erect, glabrous, sheathed; sheaths 3-4, tubular, 2-3 cm. Inflorescence laxly many flowered; rachis ca. 5 cm, glabrous. Sterile bracts 2 or 3. Fertile bracts oblong-lanceolate, 3 mm, acute. Flowers yellowish brown, non-resupinate, ca 7 mm across. Pedicel and ovary swollen, ca. 4 mm. Sepals subsimilar, linear-oblong, 4 x 0.5 mm, acuminate, spreading, apex curved. Petals linear-oblong, 3 x 0.4 mm, acuminate. Lip simple, ovate, 2 x 1 mm, acute, concave, apex unlobed, 1-veined. Column ca. 0.8 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, E Asia.
Altitudinal range: 2500 — 3000
Ecology: Beneath the conifers and bamboos or Abies – Betula forest
Flowering: June– July.
2. Neottia chandrae Raskoti. J.J.Wood & Ale, Nordic J. Bot. 30: 187 (2012).
Plants autotrophic, 11 cm. Rhizome short with a few, filiform roots. Stem 11 cm, stout, glabrous, slender, without basal sheath. Leaves 2, ovate-orbicular, 2 X 2 cm, subsessile, acute or obtuse. Inflorescence laxly 5-flowered; peduncle ca. 4 cm, pubescent sterile bracts absent; rachis pubescent. Fertile bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 mm, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, green, ca. 10 mm, sepals and petals spreading. Pedicel and ovary ca. 7 mm, pubescent. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 5 X 1.5 mm, obtuse, 1-veined. Lateral sepals lanceolate, 5 X 1.5 mm, falcate, obtuse, 1-veined. Petals linear-lanceolate, 4 X 0.5 mm, obtuse. Lip hastate, ca. 10 X 5 mm, margin ciliate, apex deeply 2-lobed, lobes parallel or divergent, deltate, acute, sinus without tooth. Column ca. 3 mm, slender, curved.
Distribution: Endemic to Nepal.
Altitudinal range: 3800 m.
Ecology: In partial shade on moist humus rich slopes in Abies forest.
Flowering: July.
Above description based on type specimen (Raskoti Bhakta B. 280 holotype KATH!) and protolog.
3. Neottia listeroides Lindl. in Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts.: 368 (1839).
Plants leafless, holomycotrophic, 15–40 cm. Rhizome short with many fasciculate roots. Peduncle 12–20 cm, erect, slender, pubescent, sheathed; sheaths 2–4, tubular, 2–5 cm. Inflorescence laxly to subdensely many flowered; rachis 6–20 cm, pubescent. Fertile bracts oblong-lanceolate, 4–8 mm, acute or acuminate. Flowers resupinate, sepals and petals green, lip dark green, ca. 7 mm across. Pedicel and ovary 4–7 mm, densely pubescent, ovary ellipsoid-fusiform. Sepals elliptic-ovate, 3–4 X 2 mm, subsimilar, concave, outer surface sparsely pubescent, acute, 1-veined; lateral sepals falcate. Petals narrowly oblong, 2–4 X 0.8 mm, obtuse, 1-veined. Lip narrowly obovate-oblong, 8–10 X 4 mm, spreading forward, simple, exceeding the sepals, at center with dark narrow calli extending up to sinus, apex bifid, deeply 2-lobed, lobules subparallel, subovate; margins minute pubescent. Column curved, ca. 3 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, C China.
Altitudinal range : 3000– 3600 m
Ecology: In dense Quercus forest.
Flowering: July–September
4. Neottia longicaulis (King & Pantl.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 117 (1995).
Listera longicaulis King & Pantl.
Plants autotrophic, 12–20 cm. Rhizome short with a few, filiform roots. Stem 7–14 cm, smooth, glabrous, slender, with 1 basal sheath. Leaves 2, ovate-cordate, 1.8–3 X 1–3 cm, subsessile, acute or obtuse. Inflorescence laxly 5 to 7-flowered; peduncle ca. 2.5 cm, pubescent with 1 sterile bract; rachis pubescent. Fertile bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, yellowish green, ca. 8 mm, sepals and petals spreading. Pedicel and ovary ca. 7 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 4 X 2 mm, obtuse, 1-veined. Lateral sepals lanceolate, 4.5 X 2 mm, falcate, obtuse, 1-veined. Petals linear-lanceolate, 3.5 X 1 mm, obtuse. Lip suboblong, ca. 10 X 6 mm, margin ciliate, apex deeply 2-lobed, lobes parallel, ovate, obtuse, sinus without tooth. Column ca. 3 mm, slender, curved.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 2400–2500 m.
Ecology: In Pinus wallichiana forest.
Flowering: July.
5. Neottia mucronata (Panigrahi & J.J. Wood) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 118 (1995).
Listera mucronate Panigrahi & J.J. Wood, Kew Bull. 29: 731 (1975).
Plants autotrophic, 16–30 cm. Rhizome elongate creeping with many elongate roots. Stem 15–25 cm, stout, smooth, glabrous, slender, with two basal sheaths. Leaves 2, orbicular-ovate, 5–7.5 X 4—5.5 cm, sessile, acute. Inflorescence laxly 12 to 14-flowered; peduncle 6–15 cm, pubescent with 2 or 3 sterile bracts; rachis pubescent. Fertile bracts ovate-lanceolate, 3–5 mm, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, green, ca. 10 mm, sepals and petals spreading widely. Pedicel and ovary ca. 8 mm, pubescent. Dorsal sepal elliptic 5 X 1 mm, obtuse, 1-veined. Lateral sepals ovate, 5 X 1.5 mm, falcate, obtuse, 1-veined. Petals linear-oblanceolate, 3.5 X 0.5 mm, subacute. Lip obovate-cuneate, 9–12 X 8 mm, broadest at the apex, narrower at the base, adaxially with a relatively broad indistinct keel at central mid-line, apex deeply 2-lobed, lobules divergent, suborbicular, obtuse, sinus with distinct small tooth. Column ca. 2 mm, short, stout and broad.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 2000–3500 m.
Ecology: On mossy rock in shady forest floor.
Flowering: May — July.
6. Neottia nepalensis (N.P.Balakr.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 118 (1995).
Listera nepalensis N.P.Balakr., Blumea 14: 237 (1966).
Plants autotrophic, 6–20 cm. Rhizome short with fleshy fibrous roots. Stem 3.5–12 cm, smooth, slender, sheathed; sheath single, 5 X 2 mm, at about 2–4 cm above rhizome. Leaves 2, ovate- cordate, 1.5–3 X 1.5–3 cm, sessile, acute. Inflorescence 4 to12-flowered, arranged distantly; peduncle ca. 2 cm, pubescent, rachis pubescent. Fertile bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, green, 1– 2 cm, sepals and petals spreading widely. Pedicel and ovary 4–5 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 2–2.5 X 1.5 mm, acute, 1-veined. Lateral sepals ovate-lanceolate, 3–4 X 1.5–2 mm, subfalcate, acute, 1-veined. Petals linear-lanceolate, 2.5 X 0.8 mm, subacute, 1-veined. Lip linear-lanceolate, 8–13 X 2—2.5 mm, broadest at the middle, narrower at both ends, apex shortly 2-lobed, lobules narrowly obtuse, sinus short without tooth. Column ca. 3 mm, cylindric, curved.
Distribution: Endemic to Nepal.
Altitudinal range: 3000–4000 m.
Ecology: Growing on moss covered rocks or leaf mould in Abies-Betula, Pinus and mixed deciduous forests.
Flowering: July — August.
7. Neottia pinetorum (Lindl.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 118 (1995).
Listera pinetorum Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 1: 175 (1857).
Plants autotrophic, 16–30 cm. Rhizome short with a few elongate roots. Stem 7–12 cm, smooth, slender, sheathed at base. Leaves 2, broadly cordate, 2.5–3.5 X 2.5–3.5 cm, sessile, acute. Inflorescence laxly 3 to 9 flowered; peduncle ca. 2 cm, pubescent, rachis pubescent. Fertile bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, greenish yellow, ca. 1 cm, sepals and petals not spreading widely. Pedicel and ovary 4–5 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal narrowly elliptic 3 X 1.5 mm, acute, 1-veined. Lateral sepals narrowly elliptic, 4 X 1.5 mm, falcate, acute, 1-veined. Petals linear, 3 X 0.4 mm, subacute, 1-veined. Lip obovate-cuneate, 10 X 3–5 mm, broadest at the apex, narrower at the base, with a dark central mid-line, apex deeply 2-lobed, lobules parallel, oblong, obtuse, sinus with or without short teeth. Column ca. 3 mm, cylindric, curved.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 2200–3000 m.
Ecology: In Abies and Tsuga forest.
Flowering: May — July.
8. Neottia tenii Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19: 376 (1924).
Plants leafless, holomycotrophic, 30 cm. Peduncle 18 cm, erect, slender, pubescent, sheathed; sheaths 2–4, tubular, 2–5 cm. Inflorescence laxly 15-flowered; rachis ca. 10 cm, pubescent. Fertile bracts lanceolate, 5–16 mm, glabrous, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, 10 mm. Pedicel and ovary 7–8 mm, pubescent. Sepals lanceolate, 3–4 mm, subsimilar, subacute, 1-veined; lateral sepals falcate. Petals linear, slightly shorter than sepals, obtuse, 1-veined. Lip narrowly oblong, 7–8 X 3.5 mm, spreading forward, with a pair of auricles at base, apex deeply 2-lobed, lobules subparallel, lanceolate; margins minute pubescent. Column curved, ca. 3 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, China.
Altitudinal range : 2600 m
Ecology: ??
Flowering: September
As the specimen (BB Raskoti 0568 KATH) is not in good condition, the floral characters described above is based on Flora of China.
9. Neottia tenuis (Lindl.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot., Suppl. 3: 119 (1995).
Listera tenuis Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 1: 176 (1857).
Plants autotrophic, 9–18 cm. Rhizome short with a few elongate roots. Stem 6–13 cm, erect, puberulous, slender, sheathed at base. Leaves 2, elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic, 1–2.5 X 0.7–1 cm, sessile, acute. Inflorescence laxly 3 to 9 flowered; peduncle 2–3 cm, glandular-puberulous; rachis pubescent. Fertile bracts ovate, ca. 4 mm, acuminate. Flowers resupinate, olive green with pale brown lip, 5–8 mm, sepals and petals spreading. Pedicel and ovary ca. 3.5 mm, glabrous. Sepals similar, oblong-ovate,. 3.5 X 1.5 mm, acute, 1-veined. Petals oblong-ovate, 3.5 X 1 mm, acute. Lip wedge-shaped to obcordate, 5 X 3 mm, with a dark central mid-line, apex 2-lobed, lobules short, rounded, obtuse, entire. Column ca. 2.5 mm, cylindric, curved.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, Tibet.
Altitudinal range: 3400 m.
Ecology: In humus rich soil in Rhododendron–Abies forest.
Flowering: August.