Orchids in Northern Sikkim, 2017

[Claire Cockcroft]

I trekked this summer in Sikkim from Gangtok north, both to the northeast and to the northwest.  Trekking in the middle of monsoon season in Sikkim is difficult, so I apologize in advance for the poor quality of some of the photos.  Names may not be right so any corrections are appreciated.

I photographed two cypripediums: C. himalaicum and C. elegans

[Claire Cockcroft]

Only one pleione was found: P. hookeriana

[Claire Cockcroft]

Sizes ranged from tiny herminiums to huge galeola.  I'll spare you the pictures of herminiums -- size varied, but they were all small, green flowers!
Galearis (2 species?), Galeola lindleyan

[Claire Cockcroft]

Some oreochis: O. foliosa, O. micrantha, and an unidentified O. sp.

[Claire Cockcroft]

Three more small orchids: Coeloglossum viride, Ponerorchis chusua (?), and Gymnadenia orchidis

[Claire Cockcroft]

I will end with photos of several low elevation orchids: Dendrobium amoenum (?), Pholidota pallida, a yellow "sp" (no idea) and a really poor picture of Vanda cristata.

[Maggi Young]

Quite the adventure, Claire - but worth it!

[Claire Cockcroft]

It was quite an adventure, Maggi.  Landslides, rock slides, blocked rivers, mud, saber rattling and civil unrest (don't ask!), and of course, rain.  In compensation, there were primulas galore and Meconopsis simplicifolia and M. paniculata, including a pink one!

[Pauli]

Your yellow orchid may be some kind of Coelogyne.

[GordonT]

Claire, I think Herbert is right, it is likely Coelogyne prolifera.

[Claire Cockcroft]

Thank you both for the identification.
...Claire