银兰 yin lan

Serapias erecta Thunberg in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14, 816. 1784; Cephalanthera elegans Schlechter; C. erecta var. szechuanica Schlechter; C. szechuanica (Schlechter) Schlechter; Epipactis erecta (Thunberg) Swartz; Limodorum erectum (Thunberg) Kuntze.

Plants leafy, autotrophic, 10-30 cm tall. Stem slender, with 2-4 basal sheaths, 2-4(or 5)-leaved. Leaves elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 2-8 × 0.7-2.3 cm, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescence ± laxly 3-10-flowered; rachis 2-8 cm, ridged; basal floral bract foliaceous, lanceolate and to 80 mm, distal ones narrowly triangular, 1-3 mm. Flowers erect, weakly spreading or not opening at all, white; pedicel and ovary 6-9 mm. Sepals oblong-elliptic, 8-10 × 2.5-3.5(-4.5) mm, 5-veined, apex acute to obtuse. Petals similar to sepals but slightly shorter; lip 5-6 mm, spurred at base, 2-partite; hypochile lobes erect and embracing column, ovate-triangular to lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 mm, apex acute; epichile subcordate to broadly ovate, ca. 3 × 4-5(-5.5) mm, apex acute, with 3 brownish longitudinal lamellae, papillate toward apex; spur protruding between bases of lateral sepals, conic, 2-3 mm, apex subacute. Column 3.5-4 mm, with 2 narrowly oblong wings; anther ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm. Capsule narrowly elliptic to broadly cylindric, ca. 1.5 × 0.3-0.5 cm. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 34.

Clearings in forests, thickets; 800-2300 m. Anhui, N Fujian, S Gansu, N Guangdong, N Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

The report of this species from Xizang (Zayü) (Fl. Xizang. 5: 747. 1987) was based on a fruiting specimen, which was obviously misidentified.