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Cones of the two species of Picea found in Bhutan

The Bhutan Himalayas harbor a very rich array of flora and fauna due to the diverse ecosystem and eco-floristic zones. The Flora of Bhutan has records of more than 5600 vascular plants. A total of 101 species of new plants were recorded in Bhutan between 2009 and 2017 while 16 plant species new to science were discovered in Bhutan from 2009 to 2017. Gymnosperms in Bhutan form a very small part of the flora but with many species which are very valuable as timber resources. While Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana) forms an extensive stand in the inner dry valleys, the Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forms pure stands in the lower arid valleys. Spruce is also a species of conifer that is found in mixed conifer forests and often form extensive pure stands.

Spruce or the genus Picea is represented by two species in Bhutan. The most common species of Picea found in Bhutan is the Eastern Himalayan Spruce (Picea spinulosa) and the less common one (Picea brachytyla) is so far recorded from the Bumthang district only. While both species appear similar, they can be distinguished using the scales of the female cones. The shape of the female cone scales of Picea spinulosa is obovate with a rounded tip while the female cone scales of Picea brachytyla are mostly rhombic with a blunt triangular apex. The differences are as visible in the figure below. 

Comparision of the female cone scales of the two species of Picea

The Sargent's Spruce (Picea brachytyla) is currently classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

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The taxonomy of goral has never been consistent. Though four species were considered earlier, a publication by Petr Hrabina in 2015 recognized six different species based on external morphology. According to him, the species we find in Bhutan is Nemorhaedus hodgsoni Pocock, 1908 although they were widely identified as Nemorhaedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825) in the past. He also named the Nemorhaedus hodgsoni Pocock as Himalayan Brown Goral while the Nemorhaedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825) is the Himalayan Grey Goral. 

Link to his publication.

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The Tibetan Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium tibeticum is a terrestrial orchid which grows to around 20-30cm tall. This orchid is native to the high meadows and forest margins of Bhutan, Sikkim and China. The highly corrugated pouch of the flower of this orchid is an attractive feature. The plants grow in clumps and flowers from May to July. 

Pollination is usually done by Bumble bees. The Tibetan Lady's Slipper orchid have large lip with dark dorsal opening which often touches or stays close to the ground. Mated queen bumblebees emerge out of winter hibernation and search for nesting sites, which are mostly mouse holes. The dark dorsal opening of the lip of the orchid is mistaken by the queen bumblebees for a mouse hole and becomes entrapped inside the flower. While the bee struggles to escape, the flower gets pollinated (Pemberton, R. W. , 2013).

References

 Pemberton, R. W. (2013). Pollination of slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae): A Review. Lankesteriana. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v0i0.11539 

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Summary

Daphne ludlowii D.G Long is a low multi-stemmed shrub first seen and collected around Phephe La in Bumthang on 21 May 1949 by Frank Ludlow, George Sherriff, and J.H. Hicks. Compared to the other four species of Daphnes found in Bhutan, it is much rarer and even considered to be endemic to Bhutan previously. However, it has also been seen in the Po Tsangpo region in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.

Taxonomic description

Low multi-stemmed, suckering, shrub 20-30cm; young shoots tomentose, becoming glabrous. Leaves not or loosely clustered towards branch ends, thinly coriaceous, oblanceolate, 3 - 6.5 x 1 - 2 cm, shortly acuminate to a narrow, retuse point, base attenuate, glabrous, margins weakly revolute; petioles 5 - 7 mm. Inflorescence a 10 - 25 flowered sessile terminal cluster, produced from scaly buds, scales oblong c 8mm long, acute with densely ciliate margins. Flowers not fragrant. Perianth tube 7 - 9 mm, densely hairy, pale to bright yellow; lobes ovate 4 - 5 x 1 - 3 mm, rounded. 

-Description from the Flora of Bhutan 

 Habitat

Mixed Rhododendron, Hemlock, and Spruce forest between 3350 and 3580m.