INDIA. Manipur: Ukrul district, Imphal-Jessami road, found on a paddy field on the way to Ukhrul town from Imphal, 1 May 2016. S. Surveswaran 1 (HJCB 1001) (holotype JCB!) (specimen id M1 in DNA based phylogeny, Fig. 1).

Spiranthes himalayensis Survesw., Kumar & Mei Sun sp. nov. is similar to S. hongkongensis, S. nivea and S. sinensis, but can be differentiated on the basis of its allogamous mode of reproduction from S. hongkongensis and S. nivea which are both autogamous. It can also be easily separated from S. nivea by its pubescent body. Other morphological distinctions separating this new species from S. hongkongensis, S. nivea and allogamous S. sinensis include: floral bract longer or of the same length as the ovary, petals with blunt apex, labellum width around hypochile is same as the width of epichile, epichile widely flabellate or semi-tunicate, column length equal to or more than 1.5 mm, clavate operculum attached to the column on the broader part by an arm-like extension emerging from the upper part of column and a well-developed rostellum separating the stigma from the pollinarium.

Terrestrial herbs with perennating rhizome. Plants c. 16–30 cm tall. Rhizome about 3mm in diameter. Stem erect, leaf clustered towards the base. Leaves 2 to 5 per plant, broadly linear or linear-lanceolate, 4.0–6.0 cm long, ca. 1.5cm wide, 3-veined with depression on upper surface and elevated lining underneath, spreading from the base of the stem. Inflorescence tall, up to 30 cm long, terete, pubescent, covered with glandular hairs, with 1–3 sterile bracts sheathing the peduncle, flowers spirally arranged, clustered towards the upper one-fourth of the peduncle with flowers opening from the base. Flowers widely open 0.22 × 0.26 cm wide, 0.43 cm long, pale white to pale butter-white, pubescent with glandular hairs. Bracts green, equal to or longer than the combined length of pedicel and ovary, ovate-lanceolate, 0.40–0.50 cm long, ca. 0.17 cm wide, acuminate, hairy on the outer surface, sheathing the base of flower, margin white. Dorsal sepal white, hairy towards the base, elongated-triangular, 0.35–0.40 cm long, ca. 0.10 cm wide, obtuse. Lateral sepals white, pubescent towards the base, obliquely elliptic, 0.37–0.40 cm long, 0.10 cm wide, obtuse. Petals white, pubescent towards the base, obliquely elliptic, ca. 0.37 cm long, ca. 0.07 cm wide towards the base, 0.09 cm wide towards apex, apex blunt. Labellum white, distinctly divided into hypochile and epichile with a constriction in the middle, hairy on the outer surface, ca. 0.50 cm long; hypochile concave, ca. 0.30 cm long, 0.33–0.34 cm wide, attached at the base of short foot below the column, saccate, sac 0.05 cm deep, with one semi-globular gland on each side (0.05 cm wide, 0.04 cm high), margin entire and raised upwards till the constriction; epichile semi-tunicate, flabellate, ca. 0.20 cm long, ca. 0.30 cm wide, margin undulate, slightly dentate with some papillose hairs on the front semi-tunicate part. Column green-white, obconical, quadrangular transversely quandrangular, 0.25 cm long, 0.05 cm at the base, 0.07 cm wide towards the apex, with a short foot at the base, 0.06 cm long, stigma at the apex on the lower side, green in colour, shiny, filled with viscid liquid, trapezoid shaped, broad towards base (0.08 cm), narrower towards apex (0.06 cm), 0.06 cm long. Rostellum well developed with two semi-transparent, clavate, rostellar arms projecting in the front above stigma, 0.06 cm long. Pollinarium yellow, ovate with a deep cleft, 0.22 cm long, 0.09 cm wide, narrower end at the apex while the lobes inside covered with operculum, with a ligulate viscidium at the narrower end, 0.1 cm long. Operculum yellow-brown coloured, partly embedded on the upper part of column, not free, convex, ca. 0.10 cm long, 0.06 cm wide. Ovary sessile or with inconspicuous pedicel, densely haired, fusiform, 0.20–0.25 cm long, 0.11–0.13 cm wide. Fruits obliquely clavate, ca. 0.30 cm long, 0.12 cm wide, densely pubescent with glandular hairs.

Flowering: March–June. Fruiting: March–July.

Marshy areas near mountain streams or on bunds of paddy fields (Fig. 2A) where water is stagnant. Plants were usually found growing on clayey soil along with grasses.

Figure 2. 

Habitat and habit of Spiranthes himalayensis Survesw., Kumar & Mei Sun, sp. nov. A Habitat (type location) - along the bunds of paddy fields B Habit of S. himalayensis C Close-up of the inflorescence showing white coloured flowers with densely covered glandular hairs.

The specific name refers to the mighty Himalayan mountain range which is an important geographical feature in Asia. The samples collected for this study were not from the Himalayas. However, based on herbarium records and communication with other researchers, it is believed that this species is widespread in the lower altitudes of Himalayas. The evolutionary origin of this species and other Asian Spiranthes are to be further elucidated.

India (Karnataka, Manipur & Tamil Nadu) & China (Yunnan and most likely Hainan (see taxonomic notes for details)).

Based on DNA analysis, the occurrence of Spiranthes himalayensis can be confirmed in India and China. This species is likely to be present in a much wider geographic range where it has long been misidentified (see taxonomic notes). It was not possible to assess the specimens which might have been misidentified as S. sinensis or S. spiralis across its broad distributional range. It is emphasised that the type specimen was collected in an agricultural field and other specimens were found on roadsides along mountain slopes above 1000 m in its wide distributional range. Therefore it is speculated that this species might be of least concern for conservation. However large-scale habitat loss and fragmentation of habitats in Asia might pose a threat to this species. Since a thorough assessment has not been undertaken, the conservation status of Not Evaluated (NE) has been assigned to this species as per IUCN Red List categories and criteria (2017).

INDIA. Manipur: Ukrul district, Imphal-Jessami Road, found on paddy fields on the way to Ukhrul town, 1200 m, 1 May 2016, S. Surveswaran 1HJCB 1001 (M1-DNA specimen) (JCB); Karnataka: Chickmagalur district, near Kemmankundi, 1400 m, 14 June 2015, S. Surveswaran 4 (HJCB 0442) (C1-DNA specimen) (JCB!); Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, near Konalar anti-poaching protection camp, Grass Hills, Valparai Range, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, 1200 m, 13 March 2012, K. Ravikumar & A.C. Tangavelou FRLH-121312 (FRLH!). CHINA. Yunnan Province: Malipo County, Wenshan, near Xiajinchang village, 1400 m, 20 May 2016, S. Surveswaran S52.

Figure 3. 

Spiranthes himalayensis Survesw., Kumar & Mei Sun, sp. nov. A Complete plant B Inflorescence C Floral bract D Dorsal sepal E Lateral sepal F Petal G Ovary with column and labellum H Close-up showing the glandular hairs on flower and ovary I Side view of labellum J Top view of labellum K Side view of ovary with column L Front view of ovary and column M Front view of pollinarium N Side view of pollinarium. Note: The pinkish/bluish hue on petals of S. himalayensis is due to the black background in the plates while the flowers appear fully white in natural light.

Figure 4. 

Comparison of morphological characters of allied species. A Spiranthes himalayensis: 1 Close-up of inflorescence 2 A flower 3 Floral bract 4 Dorsal sepal 5 Lateral sepal 6 Petal 7 Ovary with column and labellum 8 Labellum (side view) 9 Labellum (top view) 10 Close-up showing glandular hairs on labellum and ovary 11 Ovary with column (side view) 12 Ovary with column (ventral view) B S. sinensis: 1 Close-up of inflorescence 2 A flower 3 Floral bract 4 Dorsal sepal 5 Lateral sepal 6 Petal 7 Ovary with column and labellum 8 Labellum (side view) 9 Labellum (top view) 10 Ovary with column (side view) 11 Ovary with column (ventral view) C S. hongkongensis: 1 Close-up of inflorescence 2 A flower 3 Floral bract 4 Dorsal sepal 5 Lateral sepal 6 Petal 7 Ovary with column and labellum; 8. Labellum (side view) 9 Labellum (top view) 10 Close-up showing glandular hairs on labellum and ovary 11 Ovary with column (side view) 12 Ovary with column (ventral view) D S. nivea: 1. Close-up of inflorescence; 2. A flower 3 Floral bract 4 Dorsal sepal 5 Lateral sepal 6 Petal 7 Ovary with column and labellum 8 Labellum (side view) 9 Labellum (top view) 10 Close-up showing glandular hairs on labellum and ovary 11 Ovary with column (side view) 12 Ovary with column (ventral view). Note: The pinkish/bluish hue on petals of S. himalayensis, S. nivea and S. hongkongensis is due to the black background in the plates while the flowers appear fully white in natural light.

Hairy Spiranthes have been reported very often from India, sometimes under the name of S. sinensis (Kumar and Manilal 1994, Misra 2004) and, at other times, under the name of S. spiralis (Deva and Naithani 1986, Misra 2007). Hooker (1890) also described two species of Spiranthes, S. australis (= S. sinensis) and S. autumnalis (= S. spiralis) from India. As the protologue of S. sinensis does not mention the presence or absence of hairs (Persoon 1807), there has been no clear distinction between S. sinensis and the new white flowered S. himalayensis amongst the various reports. So far, a true S. spiralis has not been found in India and the specimens treated as S. spiralis might have been S. himalayensis sp. nov. In this study, it was out of the scope to trace all specimens or vouchers of hairy Spiranthes and distinguish them from S. sinensis which could also be hairy in some natural populations.

Seidenfaden (1978) reported Spiranthes sinensis from Thailand, illustrating a hairy plant with long and stalked glands in the hypochile. This specimen is also suspected to be the new species S. himalayensis described here. Deva and Naithani (1986) reported S. sinensis and S. spiralis from northwest Himalaya, differentiating them on the basis of multiple roots; elongated, fleshy, cylindrical tubers; lanceolate leaves, present during flowering and pink flowers in the former against 2–3 roots; fleshy carrot shaped tuber; ovate leaves, absent during flowering; white or greenish-white flowers in the latter. They also illustrated S. sinensis with hairy flowers and well developed rostellum with two rostellar arms. For S. spiralis, they just gave an illustration of tubers, but we believe that this sample could also be the new species described here. They also mentioned that S. sinensis was found in two colours, pink and white. This could be the source of confusion leading to the misidentification of our new species as S. sinensis by other workers. Kumar and Manilal (1994) reported S. sinensis from Kerala, South India, stating that it is a variable species but no description was provided. Pink flowered forms of Spiranthes have not been observed in southern India, indicating an absence of the true S. sinensis in this area and the white flowered species reported as S. sinensis is also most likely to be the new species, S. himalayensis, described here. Acharya et al. (2010) recently described a new record of S. spiralis from Pokhara valley in Nepal with glandular hairs and a flowering season similar to S. himalayensis. It is suspected that this plant from Nepal could also be S. himalayensis sp. nov. but it was not possible to acquire the specimen for detailed morphological or DNA study. The morphological description in this publication would help with the correct identification of the new species, S. himalayensis in the future.

Pridgeon et al. (2003) (fig. 203.1) illustrated Spiranthes sinensis based on Pantling 107 (K) and Grierson & Long 3986 (K), showing hairy plants looking very similar to S. himalayensis sp. nov. However, the flower colour cannot be confirmed from the line drawings.

Huang et al. (2014) reported the presence of a species of Spiranthes at an altitude of about 800 m on a grassy slope of Diaoluoshan of Hainan Island, China, which they revised as S. hongkongensis from a previous misidentification as S. sinensis. However, based on the plant picture presented in Hainan Rainforest Exhibition Hall, the Hainan species looks like the new species S. himalayensis (based on floral morphology and lack of fruit set at the base of inflorescence, personal observations). Therefore it is likely that S. himalayensis might be extending its range up to Hainan Island. Genetic evidence of the occurrence of S. himalayensis in China has been obtained from a population located in Yunnan where at least two plants were consistently placed in the species clade of S. himalayensis whether nuclear ITS or chloroplast DNA was used in the data analysis (Surveswaran and Sun, unpublished).

Based on DNA studies (Fig. 1), the samples of Spiranthes himalayensis formed a distinct species clade, sister to S. nivea clade. Both S. himalayensis and S. nivea are distinct from S. sinensis which forms a large monophyletic clade including samples from a wide geographical range such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. It should be noted that S. sinensis is highly polymorphic in flower colour, varying from purple pink to white and also in the extent of hairiness, from glandular to glabrous. The distinguishing morphological features of S. sinensis include: floral bract equal to or longer than the length of ovary, petals with rounded apex, labellum width around hypochile is half of the width of epichile, epichile widely semi-tunicate, column length less than 0.5 mm long, upper part of operculum attached to column with the arm emerging from the top of column, well developed rostellum partitioning the stigma and pollinarium. On the other hand, S. hongkongensis always has white flowers with occasionally pinkish tint on the petal and glandular hairs on various parts of the plant, but its floral bract is equal to or shorter than the length of ovary, petals have rounded apex, labellum width around hypochile is equal or slightly greater than the width of epichile, epichile not tunicate, column length up to 1mm long, lower half of operculum embedded on to column, rostellum absent and pollinia lying directly above stigma rendering autogamy. In contrast, S. nivea has short papillose hairs inconspicuous to the naked eye, flower colour is always white without pinkish tint, floral bracts are much longer than the length of ovary, petals have a blunt apex, labellum width around hypochile being more than the width at epichile, epichile not being tunicate, column length almost 0.5 mm, lower half of operculum embedded in the column, rostellum absent and pollinia lying directly above stigma rendering autogamy (see Table 2).

Based on preliminary chromosome counts, Spiranthes himalayensis and S. nivea both have a diploid chromosome number of about 30, similar to S. sinensis. It has been confirmed that S. hongkongensis is an allotetraploid (4× = 60), with S. sinensis as its maternal progenitor (Sun 1996, Chen and Sun 1998) and most likely the new species S. himalayensis as its paternal progenitor (Surveswaran and Sun, unpublished). S. hongkongensis was not included in the phylogeny because it is a well-known allotetraploid (Sun 1996) and sequencing of cloned ITS sequences of S. hongkongensis to identify the paternal and maternal progenitors of this species has been performed (Surveswaran and Sun, unpublished).