Plant
Pleione praecox
Pleione praecoxAlso known as Early Pleione, Peacock Orchid
Perched on mossy tree trunks and damp rock faces across Himalayan cloud forests, this deciduous orchid produces spectacular, solitary blooms in late autumn just as its pleated foliage drops. Its conical pseudobulbs often bear distinct dark mottling, functioning as water reservoirs through the cold, dry montane winter. Sweetly fragrant blossoms open to reveal fringed lips lined with delicate yellow ridges, designed to guide pollinating insects into the floral column.
EpiphyticFragrantMontane
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic; mycorrhizal during germination)
Predators
- Herbivorous snails and slugs
- Insect larvae
- Small herbivorous rodents
ThreatsOvercollection for the horticultural trade and montane forest degradation
HabitatsMontane cloud forests, mossy tree branches, and damp shaded cliffs
Life spanPerennial (decades via clonal pseudobulbs)
Classification
- FamilyOrchidaceae
- SpeciesPleione praecox
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for conical, dark-mottled pseudobulbs bearing large, fragrant pink-to-magenta blooms emerging from leafless mossy tree trunks in autumn.
- Support conservation
- Photograph without touching or dislodging plants from bark, and avoid disclosing exact GPS coordinates in public forums.
Responsible observation
- Field Observation: Look for blooms on mossy oak and rhododendron branches during late autumn.
- Habitat Protection: Avoid disturbing moss mats or pulling pseudobulbs from host trees.
- Cultivation Ethics: Purchase only laboratory seed-grown specimens to protect wild populations.
Image unavailableFrequent Companion Close Relative Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Tristan Jobin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.