Rheedea

Vol. 18 (2)
75-80
2 0 0 8

Orchidaceous Additions to the Flora of

Myanmar 2
1
P. Ormerod and C. Sathish Kumar
P.O. Box 8210, Cairns 4870, Queensland, Australia.
E-mail: [email protected]
1
Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562, Kerala, India.
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
Continued herbarium and literature studies of the orchids of Myanmar have revealed one new genus and 17 new species
records. Three species (Bulbophyllum burkillii Gage, Eulophia burmanica Hook. f. and E. lachnocheila Hook. f. ) are found to
be synonyms with the earlier proposed entities, viz.: Trias oblonga Lindl., Eulophia macrobulbon (Par. & Rchb. f.) Hook. f.
and E. herbacea Lindl. respectively. One new species, Dendrobium hkinhumense is described.

Keywords: Myanmar, New Records - One genus, 17 species, One new species

Introduction
Since we published the first part of this paper misidentifications, unpublished names or non-
(Ormerod & Sathish Kumar 2004), a few other works orchidaceous plants. Thus, the checklist contains 682
relevant to the orchid flora of Myanmar have come acceptable entries of orchids distributed in 124
out. The first of these are two small colour photo genera.
booklets written anonymously for the Department
In comparison to the checklist of Kress et al. (2003)
of Botany, University of Yangon, Myanmar
our own enumeration of Myanmar orchids so far
(Anonymous 2003, 2004). Most of the species
comprises 749 species distributed in 148 genera.
illustrated are also common to Thailand and have,
thus, been previously depicted in various Thai orchid
New Species
books (e.g. Vaddhanaphuti 2001). According to Saw
Lwin, in the introduction of volume one, there are The genus Dendrobium Swartz currently has about
841 species of orchids in Myanmar. At the moment 115 species in Myanmar, compared to about 160
we believe such a figure cannot be substantiated (see species in neighbouring Thailand. Thus, we expect
discussion below). several more species from Myanmar. Apart from the
novelty described below, we have also seen what
The second one is a proposed five volume series with
appears to be two other undescribed taxa belonging
three volumes published so far (Tanaka et al. 2003,
to section Stachyobium Lindl.
2004; Tanaka & Yee 2007). Once again mostly
common species are illustrated but the series is Dendrobium hkinhumense Ormerod et Sathish
bolstered by many photographs of orchids in their Kumar, sp. nov. Fig. 1
natural habitat. The third work is a checklist of the
Affinis D. bicameratum Lindl. sed labello floribus
trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers in Myanmar (Kress
unguiculatis (non late cuneatis), lobis lateralibus late
et al. 2003). The checklist enumerates 735 orchids with
obtusis (non subacutis ad angusta obtusis) et epichilo
several unvouchered new generic and species
labello obsoletis (non semicircularis productis) differt.
records. Our own studies show that at least 53 names
should be deleted from the checklist since some of Type: MYANMAR, North Triangle (Hkinhum), 1370
these are cultivated plants, duplications, m, 21-07-1953, Kingdon Ward 21198 (Holotype, BM!).
76 Orchidaceous Additions to the Flora of Myanmar 2.

Epiphytes. Stem terete, leaves a few, 30 cm or more callus 1.5 mm long; column erect, 1.5 mm long;
long, 0.2-0.5 cm thick, upper half with several rooting columnfoot at right angles with the ovary, c. 3 mm
branchlets or keikis having narrowly clavate-fusiform long.
stems; internodes 3.3-3.7 cm long, decreasing to 0.7
Distribution: Myanmar.
cm long or less near the apex. Leaves oblong-
lanceolate, obtuse to subacute, shortly contracted Note: This new species of section Breviflores Hook. f.
basally, 2.5-5.9 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide. Inflorescences is closely related to D. bicameratum Lindl. but can be
in upper half of stem weakly fractiflex, up to five distinguished from it in having white or sometimes

3 mm

a
b

c
d e 1 mm

f
g

Figure 1. Dendrobium hkinhumense Ormerod et Sathish – a. Flower; b. Dorsal sepal; c. Petal; d. Lip - front view; e. Lip - side view; f. Column; g. Pollinia.

flowered, to 6 mm long; floral bracts oblong- purplish flowers, a clawed lip with broadly obtuse
lanceolate, acute, 5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Pedicellate sidelobes and an obsolete midlobe. In D. bicameratum
ovary subterete, 6 mm long. Flowers white, sometimes flowers are greenish with red-brown spots, the lip
purplish; dorsal sepal broadly ovate, deeply concave- has a broad cuneate base and has subacute to
cymbiform, acute, 6 mm long, 4 mm wide; lateral narrowly obtuse sidelobes with a distinct semicircular
sepals broadly ovate, acute, 6 mm long, 4.5 mm wide, midlobe.
forming with the columnfoot a mentum 3.2 mm long;
petals obliquely elliptic, apiculate, 5 mm long, 3 mm
wide; labellum flabellate-T-shaped, more or less Enumeration of New Records
truncate, 5 mm long (claw 2 mm long, lamina 3mm Cleisostoma fuerstenbergianum Krzl., Rep. Sp. Nov.
long), 5.5 mm wide, junction of the claw and lamina Regn. Veg. 7:39, 1908.
with a thick bicarinate callus spreading onto the
lateral bases of the lamina, the two keels of the callus This species was described from material cultivated
uniting apically into a glossy ellipsoid apical callus, by von Fuerstenberg in Germany. It is one of the most
 P. Ormerod and C. Sathish Kumar 77

commonly collected Thai species and thus may occur Goodyera viridiflora (Bl.) Lindl. ex D. Dietr., Syn.
in Myanmar. Pl. 5:165, 1852. Neottia viridiflora Bl., Bijdr.:415, 1825.
Occurrence: Kalaw, 04-1932, Dickason 1026 (AMES). Originally described from Java, this species is a
widespread entity found throughout SE Asia and
Distribution: China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Malesia and thus it is expected to occur in Myanmar.
Thailand, Myanmar.
Occurrence: Valley of the Nam Tamai, 1220-1525 m,
Epigeneium fuscescens (Griff.) Summerh., Kew Bull.
11-09-1926, Kingdon Ward 7396 (K).
12:262, 1957. Dendrobium fuscescens Griff., Notul. Pl.
Asiat. 3:308, 1851. Distribution: NE India, Nepal, SE Asia, Malesia, NE
Griffith (1851a, b) described and illustrated this Australia, New Caledonia.
species based on his own collections (now in K!) from Gymnadenia orchidis Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl.:278,
Churra (Churra Punje) in the Khasia Mountains of 1835.
Meghalaya. Later, King and Pantling (1898)
Lindley based this species on collections in Wallich’s
illustrated a different species from Sikkim under the
herbarium from northern India. The specimen from
name Dendrobium fuscescens. This misidentification
led Balakrishnan and Chowdhury (1966) to describe Myanmar represents a new generic record for the
Katherinea navicularis, which is a synonym of the true country.
Epigeneium fuscescens. Occurrence: Adung Valley, 3660 m, 07-1931, Kingdon
Occurrence: Valley of the Seinghku, 1830 m, 26-10- Ward 9741 (AMES).
1926, Kingdon Ward 7623 (K). Distribution: Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Myanmar.
Distribution: NE India, Bhutan, SW China, Myanmar. Habenaria humistrata Rolfe ex Downie, Bull. Misc.
Epigeneium treutleri (Hook. f.) Ormd., Oasis 1, 3:3, Inf. Kew:419, 1925.
2000. Coelogyne treutleri Hook. f, Fl. Brit. Ind. 5:837, This plant was based on a Kerr collection from Doi
1890. Suthep, Thailand. We cite only one collection here
This plant was based on Treutler’s collection from which is identical to Seidenfaden’s drawing (1977)
Sikkim. King and Pantling (1898) then confused the showing amongst other characters, a short (6-7 mm
species with Dendrobium fuscescens Griff., an entity long) spur. However, at Harvard we have seen two
that does not occur in Sikkim. Balakrishnan and other specimens [Keenan et al. 933 p.p. (A); 758 (A)]
Chowdhury’s (1966) figure called Katherinea fuscescens which are identical in habit and floral characters but
(Griff.) A.D. Hawkes is referrable here to Epigeneium possess a longer (13-16 mm long) spur. We made
treutleri. We have further seen two collections of E. critical comparisons with other similar species such
treutleri from Bhutan [Ludlow & Sherriff 1068 (BM); as H. siamensis Schltr. and H. porphyricola Schltr. but
Ludlow, Sherriff & Hicks 21256 (BM)], which are new found these differed in habit or column characters.
records for the country. These were listed as E. Occurrence: Tenasserim, Tavoy district, Hills W of
fuscescens by Pearce & Cribb (2002). Paungdaw Power Station, 640 m, 08-1961, Keenan, U
Occurrence: N Triangle, Tama Bum, 2125-2440 m, 11- Tun Aung & Rule 905 (A).
10-1953, Kingdon Ward 21446 (BM); Valley of the Distribution: Myanmar, Thailand.
Seinghku, 2125 m, 27-10-1926, Kingdon Ward 7626 (K).
Habenaria myriotricha Gagnep., Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.
Distribution: NE India, Bhutan, SW China, Myanmar. 78:72, 1931.
Goodyera fusca (Lindl.) Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:112, Gagnepain based this species on a Laotian collection
1890. Aetheria fusca Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl.:491, 1840. made by Spire. It is similar to the Indonesian H.
Lindley based this species on collections by Royle and medusae Krzl. but the column has an extended base
Wallich from northern India. Pearce and Cribb (2002) with two thickenings above the spur mouth and its
list it from Myanmar based on the unpublished stigmatic appendages are elevated above the spur
specimen cited below. mouth and lip base. In H. medusae the column is
sessile, lacks the two thickenings above the spur
Occurrence: W flank of the N’mai Kha-Salwin Divide, mouth and the stigmatic appendages lie parallel (or
3255 m, 10-1925, Forrest 27452 (K). almost touching) to the lip base. We expect that H.
Distribution: Nepal, N India, Bhutan, SW China, myriotricha will also be found in Thailand since the
Myanmar. new Myanmar localities are in Tenasserim state
78 Orchidaceous Additions to the Flora of Myanmar 2.

which is adjacent to the border. collector for Robert King from Tibet. It is the second
known species of Herminium to occur in Myanmar.
Occurrence: Tenasserim, Tavoy district, Hills W of
Paungdaw Power Station, 670 m, 08-1961, Keenan, U Occurrence: Adung Valley, 3660 m, 07-1931, Kingdon
Tun Aung & Rule 887 (A); same area, 640 m, 08-1961, Ward 9876 (AMES).
Keenan, U Tun Aung 771 (A); SW of Paungdaw Power
Distribution: NE India, SW China, Myanmar.
Station, 610 m, 08-1961, Keenan, U Tun Aung & Rule
743 (A); to E of Paungdaw Village, 305 m, 08-1961, Odontochilus clarkei Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:100,
Keenan, U Tun Aung 1379 (A). 1890.
Distribution: Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam. Clarke’s collection (no. 26741) from Mongpo, Sikkim
forms the type material of this species. We have also
Habenaria pectinata D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.:24, seen two other old Sikkim collections [Pantling 461
1825. Orchis pectinata J. E. Sm., Exot. Bot. 2:77, t.99, (K); Gamble 4004A (K)] of this rarely seen but beautiful
1806 [non Thunb. 1794]. yellow flowered orchid. It is likely confused in the
This species was based on collections made by herbarium and the field with the similarly coloured
Buchanan-Hamilton in Nepal. Kress et al. (2003) list O. lanceolatus (Lindl.) Blume.
this species from Mandalay but without citing any Occurrence: Valley of the Seing-hku, 1220-1525 m, 12-
material. We cite below the three collections so far 08-1926, Kingdon Ward 7275 (K).
seen by us.
Distribution: NE India, SW China, Myanmar.
Occurrence: Chin Hills, Haka, Klangklang Road, 6.4
km from Haka, 1980 m, 30-09-1910, Venning 35 Odontochilus crispus (Lindl.) Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind.
(AMES); Haka Golf Course, 1980 m, 23-07-1910, 6:99, 1890. Anoectochilus crispus Lindl., J. Proc. Linn.
Venning 15 (AMES); same data, Venning 16 (AMES). Soc., Bot. 1:180. 1857.

Distribution: Nepal, N India, SW China, Myanmar. A drawing by Cathcart of a Sikkim plant formed
Lindley’s type of this plant.
Habenaria yuana Tang & Wang, Bull. Fan. Mem. Inst.
7:135, 1936. Occurrence: Valley of the Sing-hku, 1830-2135 m, 25-
09-1926, Kingdon Ward 7464 (K); Nam Tisang-Mali
Tang and Wang described this species based on a Divide, 1525-1830 m, 24-06-1928, Kingdon Ward 7332
collection by T.T. Yu (no.1317) from Szechuan, China. (K).
The species is closely related to H. arietina Hook. f.
with which it shares the characters of basally lobate Distribution: NE India, Bhutan, SW China, Myanmar.
petals but these are glabrous (not pubescent) on the Odontochilus tortus King & Pantling, J. As. Soc.
inner surface. We suspect that the record of H. arietina Beng. 65:125. 1896.
by Kress et al. (2003) for Myanmar probably refers to
H. yuana since they give the Chin and Shan states as Pantling collected this species in 1894 from Kumai,
places of occurrence. These are the same places from near the Jaldacca River, in an area he ascribed to the
where the material we have seen comes from. territory of Bhutan but the locality is apparently now
in India (Pearce & Cribb 2002).
Apart from the new records cited below we have also
studied material of H. yuana from Yunnan, China Despite its relatively late description, this species was
the second of the Indian Odontochilus to be discovered
[Wang 78422 (AMES)] and Thailand [Garrett 715
when William Griffith collected it on the Mishmee
(AMES)]. Seidenfaden (1977) referred the latter
Hills in the 1830s. However, his material became
collection to H. limprichtii Schltr. (a Chinese endemic)
mixed with O. lanceolatus in Lindley’s herbarium and
but his figure is actually that of H. yuana.
thus this early record was for a long time overlooked.
Occurrence: Chin Hills, Haka, Klangklang Road, 6.4
Occurrence: N Triangle, Hkinhum, 1220 m, 12-08-1953,
km from Haka, 1980 m, 30-09-1910, Venning 36
Kingdon Ward 21255 pp. (AMES, BM).
(AMES); S Shan States, Taunggyi, 1525 m, 07-1939,
Dickason 8696 (AMES). Distribution: NE India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand,
China, Taiwan.
Distribution: SW China; Myanmar; Thailand.
Peristylus nematocaulon (Hook. f.) M. L. Banerji &
Herminium orbiculare Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:130,
P. Pradhan, Orch. Nepal Himalaya:106, 1984.
1890.
Habenaria nematocaulon Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:154,
This species was based on a collection brought by a 1890.
 P. Ormerod and C. Sathish Kumar 79

Two high altitude collections from Sikkim made by (holotype, K! CAL!).

Joseph Hooker and C.B. Clarke form the type material
We compared the types of E. herbacea and E.
of this species. The material from Myanmar is a
lachnocheila and found the two taxa conspecific. As
mixture of two species, both new records, namely the
already mentioned by Joseph Hooker (1890), the Sri
plant at hand and Platanthera stenantha.
Lankan locality given for one of the syntypes of E.
Occurrence: N Triangle, Tama Bum, 3140 m, 12-10- herbacea is likely due to erroneous labelling, probably
1953, Kingdon Ward 21458 p.p. (AMES). of another Royle collection. This species is so far
known not to occur in Sri Lanka.
Distribution: Nepal, NE India, Bhutan, SW China,
Myanmar. Occurrence: Maymyo Plateau, 1065 m, Lace s.n. (K);
“Upper Burma”, 1894, Khalil s.n. (BM).
Platanthera stenantha (Hook. f.) Soo, Ann. Hist. Nat.
Mus. Hung. Natl. Hung. 26:363, 1929. Habenaria Distribution: Nepal, India, Myanmar, Laos, China.
stenantha Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:153, 1890. Eulophia macrobulbon (Par. & Rchb. f.) Hook. f., Fl.
Six collections from Sikkim made by Joseph Hooker Brit. Ind. 6:7, 1890.
(2) and C.B. Clarke (4) represent the type material of Cyrtopera macrobulbon Par. & Rchb. f., Trans. Linn.
this entity. Lang (1998) mentions that P. stenantha Soc., Bot. 30:144, 1874.
occurs in Myanmar but without citing any material.
Type: Burma – Moulmein, Parish 37 (holotype, K!).
Occurrence: N Triangle, Tama Bum, 3140 m, 12-10-
1953, Kingdon Ward 21458 p.p. (AMES). Eulophia burmanica Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:5, 1890.
syn. nov.
Distribution: Nepal, NE India, Bhutan, SW China,
Myanmar. Type: Burma – Bhamo, 2-05-1837, Griffith s.n. (=k.d.
5285) (holotype, K!).
Zeuxine membranacea Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl.:486.
1840. Cymbidium sp. no. 9: Griffith, Notul. Pl. Asiat. 3:343,
1851; Ic. Pl. Asiat. 3:t.330-III, 1851.
Lindley based this species on a collection made by
Griffith in Bhutan. Although long-confused with Z. Despite only the buds remaining on the type of E.
strateumatica (L.) Schltr., one can distinguish Z. burmanica, we find that it is conspecific with E.
membranacea by its generally taller habit and macrobulbon. Griffith (1851a) provides a rather full
pubescent (not glabrous) ovary among other description of the type of E. burmanica as his
characters (see Pearce & Cribb 2002). Other synonyms Cymbidium species number 9. Lindley (1858)
of Z. membranacea include Z. evrardii Gagnep. [Type: misidentified the latter description as Cyrtopera
Evrard 276 (P!)] from Vietnam and Z. godefroyi Rchb.f. bicarinata Lindl. [= Eulophia bicallosa (D.Don) P.F. Hunt
[Type: Godefroy 412 (K!)] from Cambodia. The & Summerh.]. This resulted in the erroneous
illustration of Z. strateumatica by Seidenfaden (1978) ascription of E. bicallosa to the flora of Myanmar. Kress
represents Z. membranacea. et al. (2003) cite six divisions of Myanmar as places of
occurrence for E. bicallosa but we are quite sceptical
Occurrence: Ruby Mines district, near Nampaw of such a distribution and suggest the uncited
Chaung, 120 m, 27-01-1910, Lace 5070 (K). specimens of these records be critically re-examined.
Distribution: NE India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Occurrence: Mindat, 1065 m, 1-05-1956, Kingdon Ward
Cambodia, Vietnam, China (Hong Kong). 22186 (BM).
Distribution: NE India, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam,
New Synonyms Cambodia, Thailand.
Eulophia herbacea Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl.:182, Trias oblonga Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl.:60, 1830.
1833.
Type: Burma – Moulmein, Wallich 1977 (holotype, K-
Type: Sri Lanka [?] – Macrae s.n. (syntype, K-L!); India L!).
– Mussooree, Royle s.n. (syntype, K-L!).
Bulbophyllum burkillii Gage, J. As. Soc. Beng. n.s. 2,
Eulophia lachnocheila Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:2, 1890. 8:343, 1906. syn. nov.
syn. nov.
Type: Burma – Amherst District, Mya-Wadi, cult. Bot.
Type: Upper Burma – Maymyo [as “Maypongo”, Gard. Calcutta, ex Burkill s.n. (holotype & iconotype:
‘May myo’ in CAL sheet], 06-1888, Badal Khan 24 CAL!).
80 Orchidaceous Additions to the Flora of Myanmar 2.

Anonymous. 2004. Myanmar Native Orchids 2. Dept.

Botany, Univ. Yangon, Myanmar.
Balakrishnan, N.P. & S. Chowdury 1966. Notes on Orchids
of Bhutan-1. Epigeneium Gagnep. and Katherinea
Hawkes. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 8, 3-4:312-318.
Griffith, W. 1851a. Notulae ad Plantas Asiaticas 3. Charles
Serrao, Calcutta.
Griffith, W. 1851b. Icones Plantarum Asiaticarum
3. Charles Serrao, Calcutta.
Hooker, J.D. 1890. Flora of British India 4. Orchideae to
Cyperaceae. L. Reeve & Co., London.
King, R. & R. Pantling 1898. The Orchids of the Sikkim
Himalaya. Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calc. 8:1-342 + 448
plates.
Kress, W.J., DeFillips, R.A., Farr, E. & Daw Yin Yin Kyi
2003. A checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, and
Climbers of Myanmar. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 45:1-
590.
Lang, K.Y. 1998. A new subgenus of Platanthera
(Orchidaceae). Act. Phytotax. Sin. 36, 5:449-458.
Lindley, J. 1858. Contributions to the Orchidology of India
II. J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3:1-63.
Ormerod, P. & C. Sathish Kumar 2003 [2004].
Figure 2. Iconotype of Bulbophyllum burkillii Gage available at CAL. Orchidaceous Additions to the Flora of Burma
(Myanmar). Rheedea 13: 43-50.
Garay who studied the protologue of Bulbophyllum Pearce, N.R. & P.J. Cribb 2002. The Orchids of Bhutan.
burkillii Gage had serious doubts about its generic RBG Edinburgh, UK & Royal Government of Bhutan.
placement. He believed it best placed in Trias. He Seidenfaden, G. 1977. Orchid Genera in Thailand V.
suggested one of us (CSK) to locate the type and the Orchidoideae. Dan. Bot. Ark. 31:1-149.
drawing available at CAL. The type of B. burkillii had Seidenfaden, G. 1978. Orchid Genera in Thailand VI.
been misplaced at CAL for sometime but fortunately Neottioideae Lindl. Dan. Bot. Ark. 32:1-195.
with its rediscovery we find that it is conspecific with Tanaka, Y., Nyan Htun & T.T. Yee 2003. Wild Orchids in
the earlier Trias oblonga. One more drawing made Myanmar 1. Foundation Agric. Develop. &
during W.W.Smith’s time is also available at CAL, Education, Japan.
very clearly showing characteristic operculum again Tanaka, Y., Nyan Htun & T.T. Yee 2004. Wild Orchids in
reiterating our conviction that it is a true Trias. Myanmar 2. Foundation Agric. Develop. &
Education, Japan.
Acknowledgements Tanaka, Y. & T.T. Yee 2007. Wild Orchids in Myanmar 3.
Orchid Press, Hong Kong, China.
We wish to thank the Herbarium and Library staff at
Vaddhanaphuti, N. 2001. Wild Orchids of Thailand. 3rd Ed.
BM, CAL, HUH (A, AMES, GH) and K for their
Silkworm Books, Thailand.
hospitality during our visits.

Literature Cited
Anonymous. 2003. Myanmar Native Orchids 1. Dept. Received : 28.2.2008
Botany, Univ. Yangon, Myanmar. Revised and accepted : 2.5.2008