J. RENZ

Plants 10-40 cm tall. Stem usually only slightly swollen towards base, tapering upwards, with 3-4 distant pale brownish sheaths, otherwise pale yellow with some fine purple markings. Inflorescence laxely 3-8(-10)-flowered. Flowers nodding, brownish-yellow., Bracts ovate, concave, acute, shorter than pedicel with ovary. Sepals and petals similar, lanceolate, 8-12 mm, petals somewhat broader. Labellum 10-12 mm long, concave, when stretched out triangular-ovate, entire, at base c. 8 mm broad, above ± tuberculate, with 3 longitudinal ridges and some reddish-brown or crimson spots. Spur saccate, up to 7x4 mm. Column slender, 7 mm long. Ovary globose, with 3-4 mm long pedicel.

Fl. Per.: August-September.

Type: Kashmir: Lidder Valley, Naphron nala, 2750 m, 6.9. 1901, Inayat Khan 25386! (Holo.: DD,K).

Distribution: Pakistan and Kashmir from 1500 m to 2800 m.

I agree with Som Deva (personal communication in Dehra Dun), that it is preferable to keep Epipogium tuberosum Duthie separate from Epipogium roseum (D. Don) Lindl. [Syn.E. (galera) nutans (Bl.) Rchb.f.]. The latter is a plant of lowland forests, distinguished from Epipogium tuberosum by the many-flowered inflorescence, the shape of labellum (ligulate to ovate, terminating ± abruptly in a short apiculum), the more slender spur and the short, thick column. See the illustration of Calera nutans Bl. in Blume, Fl. Javae, Orchid. Pl. 52. f.3 and Pl. 54. E (1858).