ORCHIDACEAE
Zeuxine Lindl., Orchid. Scelet.:9 (1826). Adenostylis Blume; Haplochilus Endl.; Monochilus; Psyechilos Breda
By: Bhakta B. Raskoti & Lokesh R. Shakya
Taxon Description
Terrestrial or rarely lithophytic herbs. Rhizome fleshy, creeping, nodded; roots arises from nodes. Roots short or elongated, cylindric, slender. Stem erect or ascending, often sheathed in basal portion, cylindric, leafy near middle. Leaves cauline or scattered, with or without a petiole, linear, lanceolate or ovate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, glabrous or pubescent, with few to many flowers; floral bracts glabrous or pubescent. Flowers resupinate, not opening widely; ovary often twisted. Sepals subsimilar, dorsal sepal concave, forming a hood with petals; lateral sepals covered the base of lip. Petals connate with dorsal sepal, not fleshy. Lip entire or lobed, adnate to the column at base, hypochile saccate to cymbiform, each side with callus at base or without callus; mesochile oblong, claw like; epichile dilated, entire or bilobulated. Column short, dilated, with or without wings; pollinia 2, granular, sectile attached with viscidium via a long caudicle; rosetellum bilobed; stigma lobed. Fruit a capsule, erect, elliptic to fusiform.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 80 species in Africa, Asia, SE Asia, Australasia. Ten species in Nepal
Key to Species
1a Leaves sessile, erect, linear to linear-lanceolat ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
b Leaves with petiole-like stalk, spreading, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic ……………………………………………………………. 4
2a Leaves evenly spaced. Lip white. Ovary and pedicel hairy …………………………………………………. 7 Z. membranacea
b Leaves clustered. Lip yellow. Ovary and pedicel glabrous …………………………………………………………………………….. 3
3a Dorsal sepal ovate. Lip epichile entire …………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Z. lindleyana
b Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong. Lip epichile obscurely 2-lobed ………………………………………………. 10 Z. strateumatica
4a Epichile margin irregularly dentate …………………………………………………………………………………………. 6 Z. longilabris
b Epichile margin entire …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
5a Leaves usually with white line along mid-vein ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
b Leaves uniformly green ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
6a Lip entire, callus absent ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Z. integrilabella
b Lip lobed, callus present ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
7a Lip cymbiform. Epichile shallowly 2-lobed ………………………………………………………………………….. 3 Z. goodyeroides
b Lip Y-shaped. Epichile distinctly 2-lobed ……………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Z. nervosa
8a Lip yellow T-shaped …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2 Z. flava
b Lip white Y-shaped ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
9a Petals elliptic. Epichile not reflexed, lobes obovate ………………………………………………………………………… 1 Z. affinis
b Petals subovate. Epichile reflexed, lobes rhombic ………………………………………………………………………… 9 Z. reflexa
1. Zeuxine affinis (Lindl.) Benth. ex Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 6[17]:108 (1890).
Monochilus affinis Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. [Fasc. 21]:487 (1840); Aetheria mollis Lindl.; Haplochilus affinis (Lindl.) D.Dietr.
Plants 10–26 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 2–10 cm, base sheathed and with 3–5 evenly spaced leaves near the middle. Leaves spreading, ovate-lanceolate, 2–5.5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, uniformly green, apex acute, petiole-like base and tubular sheath 0.5–1 cm. Inflorescence 10–15 cm, peduncle sparsely hairy; rachis 5–9 cm, laxly 2–10-flowered. Sterile bracts lanceolate, 8–10 × 2–2.5 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts broadly lanceolate, 5–10 × 3–4 mm, apex acuminate, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 5–8 mm across, sepals reddish brown, petals and lip white; ovary and pedicel fusiform, 8–10 mm, hairy. Dorsal sepal ovate, 4–6 × 3–4 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate, 4–6 × 1–2 mm, apex obtuse. Petals subobliquely elliptic, 3–5 × 1–2 mm, apex acute. Lip Y-shaped, 7–10 × 2–3 mm; hypochile saccate, 3–4 × 2–5 mm, having hooked calli; mesochile ca. 1 mm; epichile ovate 4–5 × 2–3 mm, 2-lobed, lobules obovate, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, margin entire. Column ca. 2 mm. Capsule fusiform.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 800–2,200 m.
Ecology: Dense forests, litter-covered, shady slopes.
Flowering: May. Fruiting: June–August.
2. Zeuxine flava (Wall. ex Lindl.) Trimen, Syst. Cat. Fl. Pl. Ceylon:90 (1885).
Monochilus flavus Wall. ex. Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. [Fasc. 21]:487 (1840); Etaeria flava Lindl. ex. Wall.; Haplochilus flavus (Wall. ex. Lindl.) D.Dietr.
Plants 9–30 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 5–14 cm, base sheathed, and with 2–4 evenly spaced leaves near the middle. Leaves spreading, broadly lanceolate to ovate, 2–6 × 1.5–2 cm, uniformly green, apex acuminate, petiole-like base and tubular sheath 1–2 cm. Inflorescence 7–16 cm, peduncle sparsely hairy; rachis 3–7 cm, laxly 5–10-flowered. Sterile bracts broadly lanceolate, 5–12 × 1–3 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts lanceolate, 6–8 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acuminate, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 3–5 mm across, sepals yellowish green, petals and lip yellow; pedicel and ovary fusiform, 5–10 mm, hairy. Dorsal sepal subovate, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, 2–3 × 1–2 mm, apex acute. Petals oblong, 3–5 × 1–2 mm, apex acute. Lip T-shaped, 3–4 × 2–2.5 mm; hypochile saccate, ca. 2 mm, having hooked calli; mesochile ca. 1 mm, epichile horizontally oblong, 2–3 × 1–2, containing 2 lobules, lobules obovate, 1–1.5 × 1.5–2 mm, margin entire. Column ca. 1.5 mm. Capsule fusiform.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1,200–2,300 m.
Ecology: Forest margins and open areas.
Flowering: May. Fruiting: June–August.
3. Zeuxine goodyeroides Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. [Fasc. 21]:486 (1840).
Monochilus galeatus Lindl.; M. goodyeroides (Lindl.) Lindl.
Plants 15–20 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 3–5 cm, base sheathed and with 3 or 4 leaves clustered near the middle. Leaves spreading, ovate, 2.5–5.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, abaxially pale green, adaxially green with a silver-white stripe along mid-vein, apex acute, petiole-like base and tubular sheath 1–2 cm. Inflorescence 9–17 cm, peduncle sparsely hairy; rachis 2.5–5.5 cm, laxly to subdensely 4–10-flowered. Sterile bracts lanceolate, 8–10 × 1–2 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate, 5–10 × 3–4 mm, apex acuminate, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 3–5 mm across, sepals and petals reddish brown, petals and lip white; ovary and pedicel oblong, 5–10 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal ovate, 4–5 × 2–2.5 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate, 4–4.5 × 1–1.4 mm, apex obtuse. Petals falcately lanceolate, 4–4.5 × 1–1.5 mm, apex subacute. Lip cymbiform, 4–4.5 × 2–3 mm; hypochile saccate, ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, having hooked calli; mesochile ca. 0.5 mm, epichile horizontally oblong, ca. 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm, shallowly 2-lobed, lobules suborbicular, ca. 1 × 1.5 mm. Column 2–2.5 mm. Capsule oblong.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, E Asia, SE Asia and C Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1,200–2,500 m.
Ecology: Damp places, shaded areas.
Flowering: September–October. Fruiting: October–November.
4. Zeuxine integrilabella
Plants 15–20 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 4–6 cm, base sheathed and with 3 or 4 leaves clustered near the middle. Leaves spreading, narrowly elliptic-ovate to broadly lanceolate, 2.5–3.5 × 1–1.5 cm, pale green below, green above with a silver-white stripe along mid-vein, base sheathing, apex obtuse, petiole-like base 0.5–1.5 cm. Inflorescence 9–14 cm, peduncle glabrous; rachis 1.5–4.5 cm, laxly 2–7-flowered. Sterile bracts lanceolate, 8–10 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts lanceolate, 6–10 × 1–2 mm, apex acuminate, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 2–3 mm across, sepals and petals reddish brown, petals and lip white; ovary and pedicel oblong, 6–8 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 5–6 × 1.5–2 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals oblong, 4–6 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acute. Petals falcately lanceolate, 4–5 × 1.5–2 mm, apex obtuse. Lip rhombic, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, entire, callus absent, apex acute. Column ca. 2 mm. Capsule oblong.
Distribution: Nepal and C Asia.
Altitudinal range: ca. 2,100 m.
Ecology: Temperate forests near damp places.
Flowering: September. Fruiting: October–December.
5. Zeuxine lindleyana A.N.Rao, Arunachal Forest News 6:34 (1988).
Plants 5–8 cm tall. Rhizome not creeping, short, nodes bearing roots. Stem 3–5 cm, base sheathed and with 4–7 clustered leaves above. Leaves erect, linear-lanceolate, 1–2 × 0.2–0.3 cm, uniformly green, base sheathing, apex acuminate, sessile with sheathing base. Inflorescence 1.5–2 cm, peduncle glabrous; rachis 1–2 cm, laxly to densely 4–10-flowered. Sterile bracts rarely present, lanceolate, 10–15 × 1–2 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–10 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acuminate, longer than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 2–3 mm across, sepals and petals white, lip yellow; ovary and pedicel cylindric-elliptic, 5–6 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal ovate, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, 4–6 × 2–4 mm, apex obtuse. Lip cymbiform, 3–5 × 1–1.5 mm; hypochile saccate, ca. 2 mm, having lamellate calli; mesochile oblong, ca. 1 mm; epichile elliptic-oblong, 1.4–1.8 × 2–2.5 mm, apex obtuse, without lobes. Column ca. 1–1.5 mm. Capsule elliptic.
Distribution: Nepal and E Himalaya.
Altitudinal range: 200–800 m.
Ecology: Forest margins and grassland slopes.
Flowering: January–February. Fruiting: March–April.
6. Zeuxine longilabris (Lindl.) Trimen, Cat. Pl. Ceyl.:90 (1885).
Monochilus longilabris Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. [Fasc. 21]:487 (1840); Haplochilus longilabris (Lindl.) D.Dietr.
Plants 13–30 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 2–8 cm, base sheathed and with 3 or 4 leaves clustered near the middle. Leaves spreading, ovate-lanceolate, 2–3 × 1–2 cm, uniformly green, apex acute, petiole-like base and tubular sheath 1–2 cm. Inflorescence 8–25 cm, peduncle sparsely hairy; rachis 5–10 cm, laxly 5–15-flowered. Sterile bracts ovate-lanceolate, 8–10 × 1–2 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 10–15 × 3–4 mm, apex acute, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers ca. 5 mm across, sepals and petals reddish brown, petals and lip white; ovary and pedicel fusiform, 10–15 mm, hairy. Dorsal sepal obliquely ovate-rhombic, 5–7 × 3–5 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 4–5 × 2–2.5 mm, apex acute. Petals ovate, 5–7 × 2–2.5 mm, apex acute. Lip Y-shaped, 8–10 × 2–3 mm; hypochile 3–5 mm having hookd calli; mesochile ca. 1 mm, epichile somewhat flabellate, 4–6 × 3–4 mm, apex 2-lobed, lobules obliquely oblong, margin irregularly dentate, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm. Column 2–2.5 mm. Capsule fusiform.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, SE Asia and C Asia.
Altitudinal range: 200–800 m.
Ecology: Shorea robusta forests, humid areas.
Flowering: March–April. Fruiting: May–June.
7. Zeuxine membranacea Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. [Fasc. 21] (1840).
Tripleura pallida Lindl.
Plants 18–40 cm tall. Rhizome not creeping, short, nodes bearing roots. Stem 9–15 cm, base sheathed and with 3 or 4 evenly spaced leaves in the upper part. Leaves erect, linear-lanceolate, ca. 1–7 × 0.2–0.5 cm, uniformly green, apex acute, sessile with sheathing base. Inflorescence 10–37 cm, peduncle glabrous; rachis 3–6 cm, laxly to densely 10–25-flowered. Sterile bracts narrowly lanceolate, 7–12 × 1.5–2 cm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, 5–10 × 1–2 mm, apex acute, longer than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 2–5 mm across, sepals and petals white, lip yellow; ovary and pedicel elliptic, 5–6 mm, hairy. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Petals obliquely ovate, 4–6 × 2–4 mm, apex obtuse. Lip cymbiform, 3–5 × 2–3 mm; hypochile saccate ca. 2 mm, having lamellate calli, mesochile oblong ca. 1 mm, epichile elliptic-oblong, 1–1.5 × 2–2.5 mm, obscurely 2-lobed, lobules semielliptic, ca. 1–1.5 × 1–1.5 mm, margin entire. Column 1–1.5 mm. Capsule elliptic.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, SE Asia and C Asia.
Altitudinal range: 400–700 m.
Ecology: Humid grasslands and meadows.
Flowering: October–December. Fruiting: November–January.
8. Zeuxine nervosa (Wall. ex Lindl.) Trimen, Cat. Pl. Ceyl.:90 (1885).
Monochilus nervosus Wall. ex. Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. [Fasc. 21]:487 (1840); Haplochilus nervosus (Wall. ex Lindl.) D.Dietr.
Plants 20–25 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 10–15 cm, base sheathed and with 3 or 4 evenly spaced leaves near the middle. Leaves spreading, ovate-lanceolate, 3–6 × 1–5 cm, pale green below, green above with a silver-white stripe along mid-vein, apex acute, petiole-like base and tubular sheath ca. 1–2 cm. Inflorescence 20–25 cm, peduncle sparsely hairy; rachis 3–10 cm, laxly 4–10-flowered. Sterile bracts ovate-lanceolate, 10–20 × 1–2 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 6–10 × 3–5 mm, apex acuminate, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 6–8 mm across, sepals reddish brown, petals and lip white; pedicel and ovary oblong, 6–10 mm, hairy. Dorsal sepal ovate, 5–6 × 4–5 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals oblong-ovate, 6–7 × 3–4 mm, apex obtuse. Petals obliquely ovate, 5–6 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Lip Y-shaped, 5–6 × 2–3 mm; hypochile saccate, ca. 2–3 × 2–3 mm, having lamellate calli, mesochile ca. 1 mm, epichile oblong, ca. 3–4 × 3–4 mm, 2-lobed, lobules deviated nearly acute angle, suborbicular, 1.5–2 × 1.5–2 mm, margin entire. Column ca. 3 mm. Capsule oblong.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 200–1,200 m.
Ecology: Damp places, shaded areas.
Flowering: February–March. Fruiting: March–May.
9. Zeuxine reflexa King & Pantl., Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. [Calcutta] 8:291 (1898).
Plants 10–25 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, elongate, nodes bearing roots. Stem 5–14 cm, base sheathed and with 4–6 leaves clustered near the middle. Leaves spreading, ovate-lanceolate, 3–4 × 1–2 cm, uniformly green, apex acute, petiole-like base and tubular sheath 1–3 cm. Inflorescence 10–20 cm, peduncle sparsely hairy; rachis 5–8 cm, laxly to subdensely up to 10-flowered. Sterile bracts lanceolate, 10–12 × 2–3 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–10 × 3–4 mm, apex acuminate, shorter than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 2–5 mm across, sepals reddish brown, petals and lip white; ovary and pedicel oblong, 8–10 mm, hairy. Dorsal sepal ovate, 3–5 × 1–2 mm, apex subacute. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, 4–5 × 1–2 mm, apex obtuse. Petals subovate, 3–4 × 1–2 mm, apex acute to obtuse. Lip Y-shaped, 3–5 mm; hypochile saccate, ca. 2–3 mm, having hooked calli; mesochile flat, 1–1.5 mm; epichile reflexed, oblong, 2-lobed; lobules deviated at an acute angle, rhombic, 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm, margin entire. Column 2–2.5 mm. Capsule fusiform.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, N Asia and C Asia.
Altitudinal range: 400–700 m.
Ecology: Humid forests.
Flowering: April. Fruiting: March–May.
10. Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45:394 (1911).
Orchis strateumatica L., Sp. Pl. 2:943 (1753); Adenostylis strateumatica (L.) Ames; Neottia strateumatica (L.) R.Br.; Pterygodium sulcatum Roxb.; Spiranthes strateumatica (L.) Lindl.; Zeuxine sulcata (Roxb.) Lindl.
Plants 3–14 cm tall. Rhizome not creeping, short, nodes bearing roots. Stem 2–8 cm, base sheathed and with 5–10 clustered leaves above. Leaves erect, linear-lanceolate, 1–5 × 0.2–0.3 mm, uniformly green, apex acuminate, sessile with sheathing base. Inflorescence 1.5–5 cm, peduncle glabrous; rachis 3–5 cm, laxly to densely 5–25-flowered. Sterile bracts ovate-lanceolate, 10–15 × 2–3 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–15 × 2–3 mm, apex acuminate, longer than ovary and pedicel. Flowers 2–3 mm across, sepals and petals white, lip yellow; ovary and pedicel cylindric-elliptic, 5–6 mm, glabrous. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, 4–6 × 2–4 mm, apex obtuse. Lip cymbiform, 3–5 × 2–2.5 mm; hypochile saccate, ca. 2 mm, having lamellate calli; mesochile oblong ca. 1 mm; epichile elliptic-orbicular, 1.5–2 × 1.5–2.5 mm, obscurely 2-lobed; lobules semicircular, 0.5–8 × 1–1.5 mm, margin entire. Column ca. 1 mm. Capsule elliptic.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, S Asia, E Asia, SE Asia and Australasia.
Altitudinal range: 400–1,200 m.
Ecology: Levee banks, grasslands sandy areas.
Flowering: November–January. Fruiting: January–March.