无距虾脊兰Calanthe tsoongiana

  • Scientific Name: Calanthe tsoongiana Tang & F. T. Wang
  • Ref: Acta Phytotax. Sin. 1: 88. 1951.
  • English Common Name: Tsoong’s Christmas orchids
  • Chinese Common Name: 无距虾脊兰 wújù xiājǐlán
  • Family: Orchidaceae
  • Genus: Calanthe
  • Distribution: Forests, damp rocks; 400-1500 m. Fujian, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
Plants ca. 32 cm tall. Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs subconic, ca. 1 cm in diam., with 3 or 4 sheaths. Leaves 2 or 3, well developed at anthesis, not deciduous; blade obovate-lanceolate or oblong, (13-)27-37 × (2-)5.5-6 cm, abaxially puberulent, apex acuminate; petiole-like base 8-19 cm, usually forming a pseudostem, though sometimes short and pseudostem inconspicuous. Scape arising from axil of current year’s leaves, erect, 33-55 cm, densely hairy, with a scalelike sheath near middle; rachis 14-16 cm, laxly many flowered; floral bracts persistent, ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, membranous, glabrous, apex acute. Flowers pale purple, small; pedicel and ovary 10-15 mm, puberulent. Sepals similar, oblong, 6-7 × 3-4 mm, abaxially puberulent below middle, 5- or 6-veined, apex acute or subobtuse. Petals subspatulate, 5-6 × ca. 1.7 mm, 3-veined, apex acute or obtuse; lip adnate to base of column wings, ca. 3.2 × 3 mm, spurless, deeply 3-lobed; lateral lobes suboblong or axe-shaped, 2-2.5 × 1.3-2.5 mm, apex rounded; mid-lobe oblong or ovate, 2-2.5 × 1-2 mm, apex slightly dilated, truncate or retuse and apiculate; disk without lamellae or calli. Column ca. 3 mm, thick, dilated at apex, adaxially with short hairs; rostellum small, 2-lobed; pollinia obovoid or pear-shaped, equal in size, ca. 1 mm, with caudicles. (Flora of China)

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