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Himalayan Strap-Lip Orchid
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Himalayan Strap-Lip Orchid
P Native Photo: Chon Ks
Common name: Himalayan Strap-Lip Orchid
Botanical name: Holcoglossum himalaicum    Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Synonyms: Ascocentrum himalaicum, Vanda himalaica, Pendulorchis himalaica

Himalayan Strap-Lip Orchid is a small sized, tree-dwelling orchid, with a drooping stem carrying in the upper portion, 3-5, round, fleshy, pointed leaves, channeled above. The plant blooms in the fall on 1 to 2, supra-in leaf-axils, raceme-like, 4-9 cm long, several to 11 flowered inflorescence with ovate reflexed, membraneous floral bracts. Flowers are about 1 cm, not opening widely, sepals and petals reddish, lip white; flower-stalk and ovary about 1.3 mm. Sepals and petals are elliptic, 4-5 x 2-2.3 mm, tip blunt; lateral sepals slightly broader; lip spurred, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, about 2 x 1.5 mm, rounded; mid-lobe spreading, nearly obovate-wedge-shaped, 3-4 x 2-2.3 mm; with an upcurved, sickle shaped spur, cylindric, 1.3-1.5 cm x about 1 mm, blunt. Himalayan Strap-Lip Orchid is found in E. Himalaya to China and N. Myanmar. Flowering: October-November.

Identification credit: Pankaj Kumar Photographed in Ukhrul, Manipur.

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