दुध केभारा Dudh kevara (Nepali).

Pseudostems 0.8–1.5 m. Leaves sessile, leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate, 13–48 X 2.8–7 cm, apex acuminate, adaxially glabrous and abaxially sparsely pubescent. Ligules oblong, 20–30 X 14–17 mm, apex truncate or acute, membranous, glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescence, spike ellipsoid, 6–14 cm, densely flowered, glabrous, main axis concealed; bracts imbricate, green, oblong-elliptic, 4.8–5.7 X 3.4–3.7 cm, apex acute, margin membranous, apex pubescent, subtending 3–4 flowers; bracteoles 2.8–3.3 X 1.9–2.1 cm, apex 1-lobed, apex acute, membranous, apex pubescent. Flowers white tinged with green or yellow at base, highly fragrant. Calyx tubular, 3–3.4 cm, apex 3-lobed, apices acute, membranous, shorter than bract. Corolla tube slender, 6.6–6.8 cm, longer than bract, corolla lobes 3.1–3.6 cm, apex acuminate. Lateral staminodes elliptic-obovate, 3.4–3.6 cm. Labellum obcordate, 3.6–4.2 cm, wider than long, apex 2-lobed, cleft less than half the length of labellum; filament white or yellow-red, 2.6–3 cm, shorter than labellum; anther yellowish, 13– 15 mm. Ovary glabrous; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia, SE Asia, Australasia.

Altitudinal range: 100-1900 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial, in forest clearings.

Flowering: July-October. Fruiting: November-December.

Gandasulium densiflorum (Wall.) Kuntze; Hedychium sinoaureum Stapf.                   

Pseudostems 1–1.2 m. Leaves sessile or petiolate, petiole up to 1 cm; leaf blade elliptic, 26–44 X 5.1–11 cm, apex acuminate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Ligules brown-red, ovate, 5–24 X 7–14 mm, apex obtuse to unequally 2-lobed, margin membranous, glabrous. Inflorescence, spike quadrangular, 16–28 cm, densely flowered, glabrous, main axis visible; bracts convolute, green, ovate-oblong, 14–31 X 8–10 mm, apex obtuse, margin membranous, glabrous, subtending 1 flower; bracteole 10–11 X 9–10 mm, apex 1-lobed, apex obtuse, margin membranous, glabrous. Flowers yellow or orange-yellow. Calyx tubular, 1.3–2.9 cm, apex 2 or 3-lobed, apices acute or obtuse, glabrous, subequal to bract. Corolla tube slender, 1.5–3.3 cm, longer than bract; corolla lobes 2.1–2.6 cm, apex obtuse. Lateral staminodes narrowly oblanceolate, 2.1–2.5 cm. Labellum clawed-obovate, 1.6–2.0 cm, apex 2-lobed, cleft deeply; filament orange-red, 15–17 mm; anther orange-red,  7–10 mm, stamen longer than labellum, Ovary glabrous; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 400-2800 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial, shady places, rocks, among shrubs, in broad leaved forest.

Flowering/ Fruiting: July-August.

Pseudostems ca. 3 m. Leaves sessile to subsessile, lowermost leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate, uppermost oblong-lanceolate, 25–45 X 5–10 cm, apex acuminate, adaxially glabrous and abaxially sparsely pubescent. Ligule pale green, oblong to lanceolate, 2–4 X 1–1.5 cm, apex acuminate, margin membranous. Inflorescence, spike ca. 18 cm; bract imbricate, green, oblong, apex bifid, subtending 3 flowers. Flowers white tinged with red, fragrant. Calyx tubular, 2.5–4 cm, apex 3- lobed, spathode, transparent, apices pubescent, equal to bract. Corolla tube slender, 3–4.5 cm, longer than bract, corolla lobes broadly elliptic to obovate, 10–15 mm, apex obtuse, Lateral staminodes linear, tapering, 1.2–1.5 cm. Labellum clawed, ovate, 1.5–1.8 cm, apex 2-lobed, apex obtuse; filament longer than labellum; anther yellow, 4–5 mm, linear, 2-lobed. Ovary villous; stigma cyathiforme, ciliated. (Description based on Brown, 1821).

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya and Assam-Burma.

Altitudinal range: ca. 1700 m.

The digital image of a single herbarium specimen of the species collected by Wallich and located in E was studied. On the digital image seen of the aforementioned specimen, only the bracts were clearly visible, and other floral parts were absent or not comprehensible. Hence, only the translation of the protologue text has been given in place of the regular description.

यामना Kyamana, सर्रो Sarro (Nepali).

Pseudostems 0.8–1.5 m. Leaves sessile or petiolate, petiole up to 4 cm; leaf blade elliptic, 23–39 X 7.5–14.5 cm, apex acuminate, adaxially and abaxially glabrous. Ligules brown-red with dark red margin, ovate-oblong, 6–17 X 9–12 mm, apex 2-lobed or obtuse, margin membranous, glabrous. Inflorescence flat-topped, spike ellipsoid, 6.5–10 cm, laxly flowered, glabrous, main axis concealed; bracts imbricate, green, elliptic-lanceolate, 2.6–3.8 X 0.8–2.1 cm, apex acute, margin membranous, glabrous, subtending 1 flower; bracteoles 8–17 mm, apex 1-lobed, apex acute, margin membranous, glabrous. Flowers white or cream-yellow, mildly fragrant. Calyx tubular, 2.1–2.8 cm, apex 3-lobed, apices acute, glabrous to pubescent, shorter than bract; Corolla tube slender, 5.1–7.2 cm, longer than bract, corolla lobes linear, 3.8–6.5 cm, apex acute or obtuse. Lateral staminodes oblanceolate-linear, 3.1–4 cm. Labellum oblanceolate, 2.2–2.8 cm, apex 2-lobed, cleft deeply; filament red, 4.3–7.5 cm, longer than labellum; anther red, 12–17 mm. Ovary pubescent; Stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 800-3500 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial, alongside trees and shrubs in forest clearings or disturbed patches, moist and shady places, rocky places.

Flowering: June-August. Fruiting: September-October.

Notes Smith (1994) mentioned that the length of calyx is equal to bract in Hedychium ellipticum. However, this study documented calyx as shorter than bract.

Hedychium coronarium var. flavescens (Carey ex Roscoe) Baker.

 सुनक्यामरा Sunkyamara (Nepali).

Pseudostems up to 1.7 m. Leaves sessile; leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate, 42–59 X 8–11 cm, apex acuminate, slightly unequally divided by midrib, adaxially glabrous and abaxially pubescent. Ligules oblong, 2.6–4.3 X 1.8–2.1 cm, apex truncate, membranous.  Inflorescence, spike ellipsoid, 9–16 cm, densely flowered, glabrous, main axis concealed; bracts imbricate, green, elliptic-obovate, 4.5–5.3 X 2.7–3.3 cm, 1-lobed, apex acute, margin membranous, apex densely pubescent, subtending 2–4 flowers; bracteoles 2.3–3 cm, apex 2-lobed, apices acute, membranous, pubescent, apices densely pubescent; inner bracteoles occasionally present, ca. 14 mm, 1 or 2-lobed, apex acute, apex pubescent. Flowers pale yellow tinged with yellow-orange at base, fragrant. Calyx tubular, 3.5–4.7 cm, apex 3-lobed, apices acute, pubescent, shorter than bract. Corolla tube slender, 6.6–9 cm, longer than bract, corolla lobes linear, 2.9-4.1 cm, apex aristate. Lateral staminodes elliptic-obovate, 3.6–4.6 cm.  Labellum obcordate, 3.6–4.6 cm, longer than wide, apex 2-lobed, cleft less than half the length of labellum; filaments yellowish, 3.5–4.2 cm, shorter than labellum; anthers yellowish, 12–16 mm. Ovary pubescent; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, E Asia, SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1200–2000 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial, moist places.

Flowering: July–September. Fruiting: November–December.

Hedychium speciosum Wall., in Roxb. Fl. Ind., 1:13 (1820).

पंखा फूल Pankha phul, सुनकेभरा Sunkevara (Nepali).                                                

Pseudostems 0.9–3 m. Leaves sessile or petiolate, petiole up to 6 cm; leaf blade elliptic, 30–42.5 X 6.5–10.6 cm, apex acuminate, margin membranous, coriaceous, glabrous, abaxially white pulverulent. Ligules green with magenta streaks in between, oblong, 1–3.4 cm, apex truncate, glabrous.  Inflorescence, spike cylindric, 26–37 cm, densely flowered, glaucous, main axis visible; bracts convolute, green, oblong-elliptic, 2.6–4.4 X 1.1–2.1 cm, apex acute, margin membranous, glaucous, subtending 1–2 flowers; bracteoles elliptic-oblong, 2.4–2.7 cm, apex 1-lobed, membranous.  Flowers  yellow, mildly fragrant. Calyx tubular, 2.1–3.2 cm, apex 3-lobed,   shorter than bract. Corolla tube slender, 6.5–7 cm, longer than bract, three distinct nerves on the corolla tube, corolla lobes 4.5–4.7 cm,  apex acuminate. Lateral staminodes  narrowly oblanceolate, 3.4–3.5 cm.  Labellum obcordate-obovate, 3–3.3 cm, apex 2-lobed, cleft less than half the length of labellum; filaments bright red, 5.2–6 cm, longer than labellum; anthers orange-red, 9–10 mm. Ovary glabrous; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1800-2100 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial, under dense shade of Castanopsis and Alnus trees, damp gully alongside stream, open forest under Pinus, grassy slope.

Flowering: June–August. Fruiting: September–October.

Hedychium. gracile var. glaucum (Roscoe) Baker

Pseudostems up to 1.5 m. Leaves petiolate, petiole 8–20 mm; leaf blade elliptic-obovate, 7.5–27.5 X 2.1–5.5 cm, apex acuminate, glabrous or abaxially sparsely pubescent. Ligules pink-red, 1–3 X 4–6 mm, apex 2-lobed, lobes rounded, glabrous. Inflorescence, spike slightly angular, 14–19 cm, glabrous, main axis visible; bracts convolute, dark green, elliptic-oblong, 12–24 X 2–3 mm, apex obtuse, margin membranous, subtending 1 flower; bracteoles tubular, up to 10 mm, apex 1-lobed, apex obtuse, membranous, apex pubescent. Flowers cream-white, mildly fragrant. Calyx tubular, 1.2–2.4 cm, apex 2 or 3-lobed, smaller or equal to bract. Corolla tube slender, 1.4–2.7 cm, equal to or longer than bract, corolla lobes 2.2–3.1 cm, longer than bract. Lateral staminodes narrowly lanceolate, 1.7–2.4 cm. Labellum oblong, cuneate, 1.5–2.1 cm, apex 2-lobed, cleft more than half the length of labellum, each lobe mildly cleft;  filament bright red, 3.2–3.7 cm, more than twice longer than labellum; anther red, 8–9 mm. Ovary pubescent; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1300–1900 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial, on moist wooded slope.

Flowering/ Fruiting: August—September

Hedychium acuminatum Roscoe; Hedychium spicatum var. acuminatum (Roscoe) Wall.; Hedychium spicatum var. trilobum (Roscoe) Wall.

Pseudostems 1–1.5 m. Leaves sessile; leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate, 30–56 X 4.9–11.8 cm, apex acuminate, adaxially glabrous and abaxially sparsely pubescent. Ligules ovate-oblong, 11–24 X 8–14 mm, apex truncate, obtuse or 2-lobed, membranous, glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescence, spike angular, 14–28 cm, laxly or densely flowered, glabrous, main axis visible; bracts convolute, light green, oblong-lanceolate, 20–54 X 5–21 mm, apex obtuse, margin membranous, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, apex pubescent, subtending 1 flower; bracteoles 18–31 X 5–7 mm, apex 1-lobed, apex acute, membranous, glabrous. Flowers white or cream-yellow sometimes tinged with purplish red at base, fragrant. Calyx tubular, 2.5–5.6 cm, apex 3-lobed, apices acute, glabrous, longer than bract. Corolla tube slender, 5.5–7.1 cm, longer than bract, corolla lobes 3.9–4.3 cm, apex acuminate. Lateral staminodes oblanceolate, 4.4–5.4 cm, white or cream-yellow sometimes tinged with purplish red at base. Labellum oblong-cuneate, 4.8–5.7 cm, apex 2(or 3)-lobed, cleft deeply; filament light red, 12–2.1 mm, shorter than labellum; anther red, 13–17 mm. Ovary glabrous; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1300-2800 m.

Ecology: Terrestrial or epiphyte, at edge of forest, in shrubberies, on moist shady places, along river gorge, overhanging from steep wall, open hill slope.

Flowering/ Fruiting: June – September

Gandasulium thyrsiforme (Sm.)Kuntze; Hedychium heteromallum Ker Gawl.; H. tocucho Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.

पंखा फूल Pankha phul (Nepali)

Pseudostems up to 1 m. Leaves sessile or petiolate, petiole up to 12 mm; leaf blade elliptic-obovate, 33–36 X 8.5–10.2 cm, apex acuminate, adaxially glabrous and abaxially pubescent. Ligule light green, ovate-lanceolate, 9–22 X 12–15 mm, apex acute or obtuse, membranous, apex pubescent. Inflorescence, spike   8–11 cm, glabrous, main axis visible; bracts convolute, green, elliptic-lanceolate, 21–30 X 6–13 mm, apex 1-lobed, margin membranous, sparsely pubescent, apex pubescent, subtending 1–2 flowers; bracteoles tubular, 15–17 mm, apex 1-lobed, apex acute or obtuse, membranous, glabrous. Flowers white, mildly fragrant. Calyx tubular, 1.9–2.6 cm, apex 3-lobed, apices acute, membranous, sparsely pubescent, shorter than bract. Corolla tube slender, 3.5–3.9 cm, longer than bract, corolla lobes 3.4–4.8 cm, apex acute-acuminate. Lateral staminodes linear-oblanceolate, 2.7–3 cm, curled upwards. Labellum clawed, 2.8–3.1 cm, apex 2-lobed, cleft deeply, tip of lobes bent backwards; filaments white, 5.6–6 cm, longer than labellum; anthers white, 9–11 mm. Ovary pubescent; stigma pubescent.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, EHimalaya, Assam-Burma and S Asia.

Altitudinal range: 900–1600 m.

Ecology: Mostly terrestrial on damp and shady slopes, gullies or epiphyte on Schima-Zizyphus species.

Flowering: August–October. Fruiting: December–January.