Nervilia simplex var. himachalensis

Nervilia simplex var. himachalensis^[1] is a variety of the orchid Nervilia simplex from the Northwestern Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, India.^[2]

Nervilia simplex var. himachalensis was first formally described in 2024 by Rimjhim Chandra and Khyanjeet Gogoi, who published the description in the The Journal of the Orchid Society of India.^[2]

The Epithet name is a metonym after the Himachal Pradesh, where the type specimens were collected.^[2][3]

Nervilia simplex var. himachalensis is a terrestrial plant with subglobose to ovoid tubers, 2.0–2.5 × 1.8–2.0 cm. Leaf abaxially pale green, adaxially green with fine white reticulate venation, cordate, 2.0–4.5 × 2.0–3.0 cm, slightly fleshy, adaxially sparsely setulose throughout, with 11–13 main veins, base cordate, margin undulate, apex acute; petiole erect, 2–6 cm. Inflorescence erect 4–7 cm long, erect, terete, slender, glabrous, 2-flowered; sheath below the base of flower c. 1.3 cm across; peduncle pale green, with 3–4, tubular, stem clasping sheaths. Floral bract lanceolate, ovate-acuminate at apex. Flower erect, not resupinate, not widely open (semi-closed), 1.5–2.7 cm across. Sepals pale green with faint grey lines, lanceolate, apex acute or acuminate; dorsal sepal c. 2.0 × 0.2 cm, apex acute; lateral sepal is 1.5 × 0.3 cm. Petals white creamy and purple from the apex, narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–2.0 × 0.2–0.4 cm. Lip strongly reflexed above middle, white tinged, purple fringed and white at base, about 2.0 × 0.6 cm when closed, spurless, simple or 3 lobed, lateral margins erect apical margins irregularly fimbriate, c. 1.5 × 0.6 cm long, lateral margins erect and loosely enclosing column, apical margin irregularly lacerate or fimbriate; lateral lobes (when present) sub-orbicular, small; disk papillose, with3 longitudinal ridges extending from near base almost to apex. Capsule is 2 cm long.^[2]

Nervilia simplex var. himachalensis occurs in the forests of the North Western Himalayan range of India, Himachal Pradesh. It grows on the forest floor covered with dry pine needles of Pinus roxburghii, at an altitude around 1500 m.^[2]

The specific epithet refers to the Himachal Pradesh, India from where the plant was collected.^[2]