Herminium alaschanicum Maxim., Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 31: 105. 1887.

Raskoti, Bhakta Bahadur, Schuiteman, Andre, Jin, Wei-Tao & Jin, Xiao-Hua, 2017, A taxonomic revision of Herminium L. (Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae), PhytoKeys 79, pp. 1-74 : 9

1. Herminium alaschanicum Maxim., Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 31: 105. 1887. Figs 8M , 9M

Monorchis alaschanica (Maxim.) O. Schwarz, Mitt. Thüring. Bot. Ges. 1: 95. 1949.

Peristylus alaschanicus (Maxim.) N. Pearce & P.J. Cribb, Edinburgh J. Bot. 58: 117. 2001.

Type.

MONGOLIA. Mont. Alaschan, 1873, Przewalski N.M., 163 (Holotype: LE! [LE 01012203]; Isotype: K! [K000079038]) .

Description.

Plant 13-68 cm tall. Tubers oblong, 1-1.5 × ca. 0.5-1 cm. Stem with 2 or 3 tubular sheaths at base, 3-4-leaved. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 2-15 × 0.4-1 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescence 14-34 cm; peduncle cylindrical, with 3-5 lanceolate peduncle-scales 5-15 mm; rachis 4-8 cm, laxly many-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5-26 mm, longer than ovary, apex cuspidate. Flowers green; pedicel and ovary twisted, beaked and much hooked toward apex, 5-15 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, 3-3.5 × 1.2-3 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate, 3-3.5 × 1.2-2 mm, apex subacute. Petals ovate-lanceolate, falcate, 3.2-5 × 1.1-1.5 mm, narrowed above middle, fleshy, apex cuspidate. Lip oblong, 4-5.5 × 1.2-1.5 mm, base concave, spurred, 3-lobed near middle; lateral lobes linear, 2.5 × 0.3 mm; mid-lobe linear-triangular, 1.5 × 0.5 mm, apex acute. Column 1 mm; pollinia obovoid; caudicles very short, viscidia involute, hornlike, rostellum triangular, armed, stigma transversely oblong, situated below the rostellum.

Flowering time.

June-September.

Habitat.

Terrestrial in Quercus - Abies forests, dry stony slopes, alpine meadows and valleys at elevations of 1800-4500 m.

Distribution.

China, Mongolia, Nepal.

Specimens examined.

CHINA: Gansu, Tianzhu county, Leigong mountain , 2800 m, 09.07.1964, Sino-Soviet Team,758 (PE); Min Hsien, 2500 m, 07.07.1936, Wang Z. B., 4879 A (PE) ; Hebei, Laiyuan county , Paishihshan ; Inner Mongolia, Xing county , 1700 m, 16.07.1977, Zhao Y., 37 (PE) ; Qinghai, Nangqian county , 4300 m, 11.07.1965, Yang Y., 01149A (PE) ; Sichuan, Daofu county, Geka Town, Mugu , 3900 m, 26.08.2001, Luo Y.B., 695 (PE); between Luhua and Gyangze along Highway 317, 3385 m, 24.07.2005, Boufford D. E. et al., 33486 (K) ; Shaanxi, Wuqi county , 1800 m, 22.08.1956, Huang Team, 8216 (PE) ; Shanxi, Shai-wang-ping, 1800 m, 24.07.1921, Smith H., 6660 (PE) ; Tibet, Gyirong county, 4400 m, 31.07.1975, Qinghai-Tibet Team, 3137 (PE); Lhasa, 8 km SSE of Lhasa, 4000 m, 03.08.1989, Dickoré B., 3411 (K); Nyalam, 4200 m, 04.09.1972, Tibetan Herb Survey Team, 1773 (PE); Radja and Yellow River Gorges , SW of Radja, 3350 m, 06.1926, Rock J. F., 14210 (K);West side of Jinsha Jiang opposite Luoxu, 3440 m, 30.07.2005, Boufford D. E. et al., 33797 (K) ; Yunnan, Gongshan county , 21.08.2007, Jin X. H., 9199 (PE); Lijiang, 2800 m, 27.06.1937, Yu T. T., 15224 (PE) .

NEPAL: Mustang , Muktinath, 07.2007, Raskoti B. B., 501 (KATH); same locality, 3700 m, 07.08.1974, Joshie D. P. and Bhattacharya T. K., 2270/74 (K); 3 miles N of Shimen, 4300 m, 06.08.1973, Grey-Wilson and Phillips, 538 (K) .

Figures

Figure 8. Petal of Herminium. A H. monorchis B H. chloranthum C H. pygmaeum D H. josephi E H. monophyllum F H. lanceum G H. josephi H H. coiloglossum I H. coeloceras J H. fallax K H. himalayanum L H. elisabethae M H. alaschanicum N H. ophioglossoides O H. quinquelobum P H. macrophyllum Q H. ecalcaratum R H. biporosum

Figure 9. Lip of Herminium. A H. monorchis B H. chloranthum C H. pygmaeum D H. josephi E H. monophyllum F H. macrophyllum G H. macrophyllum H H. alaschanicum I H. coeloceras J H. fallax K H. longilobatum L H. elisabethae M H. alaschanicum N H. lanceum O H. quinquelobum P H. kamengense Q H. coiloglossum R H. biporosum.