Platanthera bakeriana (King & Pantl.) Kraenzl., Orchid. Gen. Sp.

Platanthera bakeriana (King & Pantl.) Kraenzl., Orchid. Gen. Sp. View in CoL 1: 632. 1899. Habenaria bakeriana King & Pantl., J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 65: 132. 1896. Lectotype (designated by Efimov, 2016): INDIA , Sikkim, Lachen Valley, July 1895, Pantling 401 (CAL [CAL0000000765!]; isolecto CAL [CAL0000000764!], K [K000247399 digital image!]).

Distribution: India , Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Nepal.

Specimens examined: INDIA , Arunachal Pradesh, West Kameng district, Nekmadung , 20.07.1999 ,

A.N. Rao 30553 (OHT, ARUN); s.loc., 31.08.1984, Naithani 1148 (RENZ digital image). Sikkim, s.loc., 8-12000 ft., s.d., Hooker s.n. (K, P digital images, CAL); s.loc., s.d., Hooker 312 (K digital image); s.loc., s.d., Hooker 316 (K digital image); s.loc., s.d., King’s coll. s.n. (P digital image); East Sikkim district, Changu, 12000 ft., 16.07.1910, Smith 3503 (CAL); Ibid., 3775 m, 07.08.1997, D. Maiti & S.K. Rai 18807 (BSHC); below Changu, 3750 m, 07.07.1997, A. Maiti & S.K. Rai 18823 (BSHC); Karponang, 21.07.1945, Bor 53 (DD); below Kyangnosla, 08.07.1996, Long & Noltie 79 (E digital image); Mindzar dara, 12000 ft., August 1888, King’s coll. s.n. (CAL); Samdong, 3550 m, 16.07.1986, D.C.S. Raju & S. Singh 5930 (BSHC); Tsomgo, 18.08.1945, Bor 1031 (DD); North Sikkim district, Gnatong (Gnathang), August 1894, Pantling 401 (BM, P digital images, CAL); Lachen, 20.07.1909, Smith & Cave 2655 (CAL); Ibid., s.d., Hooker 149 (K digital image); Lachen Valley, 9000 ft., August 1895, Pantling 401 (CAL); Lachen to Tallam, near Gompa, 3100 m, 15.07.1986, D.C.S. Raju & S. Singh 5911 (BSHC); Lachong Valley, 9000 ft., July 1897, Pantling 401 (BM, E, K, P digital images, CAL); Lachung, way to Shivmandir, 3836 m, 31.07.2019, K. Prasad 86532 (CAL, BSID); Ibid., 3824 m, 31.07.2019, K. Prasad 86533 (CAL, BSID); Ibid., 3861 m, 31.07.2019, K. Prasad 86535 (CAL); Ibid., 3868 m, 31.07.2019, K. Prasad 86537 (CAL, BSID); Lachung to Dombeyang, 3100 m, 27.07.1997, A. Maity 18543 (BSHC); Lowthang, 10000 ft., July 1897, Pantling 401 (BM, K digital images, CAL); Shingba Rhodo Sanctuary, 3300 m, 06.08.2014, D.K. Agrawala 38894A (BSHC); Zema-III to Samthang, 3220 m, 03.08.2014, D.K. Agrawala 38878 (BSHC); Yakchey to Yumthang, 3300 m, 10.07.1986, D.C.S. Raju & S. Singh 5713 (BSHC); Yakla, 15.10.1896, Clarke 10405 (K digital image); West Sikkim district, Bakhim to Dzongri, 3300 m, 25.07.1999, A. Maity 21689 (BSHC). West Bengal, Darjeeling district, Singalelah, 10-12000 ft., July 1896, Pantling 401 (CAL); Ibid., 10-12000 ft., August 1896, Pantling 401 (K digital image, CAL); Ibid., 12000 ft., July 1887, King’s coll. s.n. (P digital image, CAL); lbid., 07.10.1870, Clarke 12550 (K digital image); Tonglo, 9500 ft., July 1882, Gamble 10363 (K digital image, CAL); s.loc., 18.08.1962, Renz 18079 (RENZ digital image).

Notes: The vegetative characters of Platanthera bakeriana are variable, but the floral characters are constant. King and Pantling (1896) while describing the species cited the material collected from “Lachen Valley, at an elevation of 9000 feet, flowering in July, Pantling No. 401”. A scrutiny of relevant specimens at various herbaria revealed three specimens, two at CAL (CAL0000000764, CAL0000000765), and one at K (K000247399). Efimov (2016) while lectotypifying the name chose the specimen CAL0000000765, collected from an elevation of 11000 feet, which is contrary to protologue. The above typification by Efimov (2016) was an error because there is another specimen at CAL (CAL0000000764) having the elevation absolutely matching with the protologue. This specimen also has handwritten notes by Robert Pantling, and Efimov overlooked this specimen.