Kezang Tobgay

Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan | NCAH · National Biodiversity center Serbithang Thimphiu

Two new spotted species of Chiloschista from Bhutan are described, illustrated, and compared with similar species. The second of the new species has been misidentified in previous publications as C. lunifera and C. parishii, and a comparison between the three is provided. It is also compared with C. glandulosa, which is a distinctly smaller-flowere...

Podocarpus neriifolius D.Don is reported as a new record in Bhutan following a study of fresh plant materials and herbarium specimens collected from the warm broad-leaved forest of the Athang Block in Wangdue Phodrang District. Detailed descriptions of the species along with photographs and notes are provided. The current IUCN Red List status of P....

Paphiopedilum × pradhanii, a natural hybrid between P. fairrieanum (subgenus Paphiopedilum, section Ceratopetalum) and P. venustum (subgenus Paphiopedilum, section Barbata), is reported for the first time from Bhutan. Detailed geographical distribution, ecology, taxonomic notes, and dichotomous keys to all Paphiopedilum species found in Bhutan are...

Two new species of Bulbophyllum, namely, B. gurungianum (sect. Biseta) and B. punakhaense (sect. Brachyrantha) are described and illustrated. Bulbophyllum gurungianum is similar to B. brevispicatum and B. sonii but differs strikingly by having pseudobulbs placed distantly on the rhizome, a shorter peduncle, and oblong petals with a ciliated margin...

Recent fieldwork in Bhutan resulted in the discovery of 4 endemic species of Endothyrella that are described as new to science, viz. E. barnai Gittenberger & Sherub, E. manasensis Gittenberger & Sherub, E. pterocallus Gittenberger, Gyeltshen & Tobgay, and E. trimagnipili Gittenberger, Gyeltshen & Tobgay. This results in a total of 9 Endothyrella sp...

Samples of the genera Dioryx and Cycloryx from Bhutan are identified or described as new species. Next to the wide- spread D. urnula, 7 species of Cycloryx are recognized, 4 of which are endemic to Bhutan and new to science, viz. C. pemaledai Gittenberger & Sherub, spec. nov., C. globhu- tanus Gittenberger & Sherub, spec. nov., C. haumbiclausus Git...

Through the collection of herbarium specimens in Bhutan over the years, new plant species are discovered nearly annually. Thus, this paper reports two new genera and 19 new records of flowering plant species from Bhutan. The new genera include Eurycorymbus of the family Sapindaceae and Homalium of the family Salicaceae. The new records of plant spe...

The genus Cypripedium L., in Bhutan is currently represented by five very different looking but in various combinations sympatric species: Cypri- pedium cordigerum D.Don, Cypripedium elegans Rchb.f., Cypripedium guttatum sw., Cypripedium himalaicum Rolfe and Cypripedium tibeticum King ex Rolfe. The genus itself is widespread over the entire Norther...

Montane bamboo is of very importance to the indigenous people inhabiting mountains of the Himalayas, and is a necessary component of high-altitude temperate forest ecosystems. Particularly, in Laya it is commonly used for weaving conical hat and other implements. Thamnocalamus spathiflorus (Trin.) Munro bamboo was documented as a main element of th...

Describes the genus Arachnis (Esmeralda) in Bhutan.

Montane bamboo is of very importance to the indigenous people inhabiting mountains of the Himalayas, and is a necessary component of high-altitude temperate forest ecosystems. Particularly, in Laya it is commonly used for weaving conical hat and other implements. Thamnocalamus spathiflorus (Trin.) Munro bamboo was documented as a main element of th...

First record of Galba schirazensis in Bhutan.

Pisidium stewarti and Tibetoradix cf. hookeri, two species that are known to occur at conditions that nowadays prevail at high altitudes, are reported from Bhutan for the first time. The records mark the southeastern border of the known recent occurrences for both species.

The genus Spathoglottis in Bhutan

In Bhutan, the genus Pentasacme Wall. ex Wight. had been represented by only one species, Penta-sacme pulcherrima Grierson & Long, which is mainly distributed in shaded steep banks and gully walls in subtropical rainforest at 250-550 m above sea level. During the ongoing 100 Trees species seed conservation project in Bhutan with Millennium Seedbank...

The genus Diplomeris in Bhutan.

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum, and P. venustum (Orchidaceae: Cypripedioideae) are reported to occur in Bhutan, of which the former is known to be Critically Endangered and the latter two are Endangered. Based on numerous field trips conducted over the last decade, populations of P. fairrieanum and P. venustum were located in Bhutan. No...

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. spicerianum, and P. venustum (Orchidaceae: Cypripedioideae) are reported to occur in Bhutan, of which the former is known to be Critcally Endangered and the later two are Endangered. Based on numerous feld trips conducted over the last decade, populatons of P. fairrieanum and P. venustum were located in Bhutan. No indi...

A new species of Chiloschista from a restricted area in Bhutan is described and illustrated. It is compared with C. parishii from Myanmar and Thailand, which has similarly colored flowers and from which it differs by the larger flowers, 15–18 mm versus 8–10 mm, and the lack of a glandular and pubescent, erect and curved callus lobe inside the lip,...

In Bhutan, the genus Pentasacme Wall. ex Wight. had been represented by only one species, Penta-sacme pulcherrima Grierson & Long, which is mainly distributed in shaded steep banks and gully walls in subtropical rainforest at 250-550 m above sea level. During the ongoing 100 Trees species seed conservation project in Bhutan with Millennium Seedbank...

Bhutan is well known for its rich biodiversity and efficient environmental conservation; however certain taxonomic groups are data deficient. The number of new species records and discoveries is expected to increase, since many of the less accessible areas of high biodiversity are still unexplored. This assumption is further substantiated by the fa...

A new, attractive and morphologically unique species of Spathoglottis is described, illustrated and compared with the most similar species. The new species is currently only known from two localities in southeastern Bhutan and differs distinctly from its closest relative, Spathoglottis hardingiana, by the glabrous pedicels, forward-curved acuminate...

Conservation, Travelling and Discovering new things ...

Photo documentation of flora of the Royal Botanical Garden, Serbithang in Thimphu.

Flora of Tangsibji