反唇兰属 fan chun lan shu

Authors: Xinqi Chen, Stephan W. Gale & Phillip J. Cribb

Herbs, terrestrial, small. Rhizome creeping, slender, fleshy, neck with several slender roots. Stem erect, glabrous, 2-4-leaved. Leaves cauline, narrowly lanceolate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, up to 10-flowered. Flowers not resupinate, small; ovary twisted, fusiform. Sepals free, similar, subequal in size. Petals smaller than sepals; lip slipper-shaped, entire, base saccate-spurred. Column short, with 2 lateral appendages; anther sessile, hooded, erect, with 2 nearly parallel and contiguous locules; rostellum and stigma combined into a solitary orbicular structure at posterior margin of anther; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, sectile, attached via very short caudicles to orbicular viscidia.

● One species: China.

This monospecific genus is distinguished from its closest allies Herminium and Diphylax by its long creeping rhizome, non-resupinate flowers, and undifferentiated rostellum.

Lower Taxon

• Smithorchis calceoliformis (W. W. Smith) Tang & F. T. Wang