Herminium monophyllum

Herminium monophyllum (D.Don) P.F.Hunt & Summerh.

Herminium monophyllum is a small orchid species in the Orchidaceae family, native to the East Himalaya, Nepal, and the West Himalaya. It was first described in 1966. The plant grows 6 to 15 cm tall, with a single leaf at the base of the stem and a globose tuber. Its inflorescence is lax to subdense, bearing yellowish green flowers. The flowers are small, 4 to 7 mm in diameter, with a subsecund orientation and arcuate pedicels and ovaries.

Description

The plant has a slender stem, 2.5 to 7 cm long, with tubular sheaths 1 to 2.5 cm in length. The leaf is linear-oblong, 3.5 to 5.5 cm long and 0.2 to 0.6 cm wide, with an acute apex. The inflorescence is 4 to 10 cm long, with floral bracts that are lanceolate and apex trifid. The dorsal sepal is broadly ovate-oblong, 2 to 2.5 mm long, with an obtuse apex, while the lateral sepals are ovate, 2 to 3 mm long. The petals are linear and falcate, 2.5 mm long. The lip is ovate, concave, and entire, 2.5 mm long. The column is 2 to 4 mm tall, with clavate pollinia, short caudicles, and a disc-like viscidium. The stigma is transversely oblong and located below the triangular rostellum.