独花兰 du hua lan

Pseudobulb nearly pale yellowish white, subellipsoid to broadly ovoid, 1.5-2.5 × 1-2 cm, fleshy, 2- or 3-noded, ± covered with membranous sheaths, with a solitary leaf at apex. Leaf blade spreading, recurved, abaxially purplish red, adaxially dark green, broadly ovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic, 6.5-11.5 × 5-8.2 cm, base rounded or subtruncate, apex acute or shortly acuminate; petiole-like base suberect, purple, channeled, 3.5-8 cm. Inflorescence purple, 10-17 cm, with 2 or 3 membranous, amplexicaul sheaths; sheaths 3-4 cm; floral bract deciduous, small. Flower spreading, large, white or pink, lip white with purplish red spots in basal 2/3; pedicel and ovary 7-9 mm. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, 27-33 × 7-9 mm, 5-7-veined, apex obtuse; lateral sepals slightly oblique. Petals narrowly obovate-lanceolate, slightly oblique, 25-30 × 12-14 mm, 7-veined, apex obtuse; lip oblate-orbicular in outline, slightly shorter than petals, 3-lobed, spurred at base; lateral lobes erect, ovate-triangular, oblique, 11-14 × 10-13 mm, apex acute; mid-lobe spreading horizontally, broadly obovate, ca. 8 × 12 mm, margin irregularly undulate-incised, apex truncate and emarginate; disk with 5 short lamellae between lateral lobes; spur slightly incurved, narrowly obconic, 20-23 × 7-10 mm, attenuate toward apex, apex obtuse. Column 18-21 mm, winged. Fl. Apr. 2n = 46*.

● Humus-rich soil in open forests, shaded places along valleys; 400-1100(-1800) m. Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, S Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.