贝母兰 bei mu lan

Cymbidium speciosissimum D. Don.

Rhizome somewhat rigid, 4-6 mm in diam., branched, with dense, lucid, leathery, scaly sheaths. Pseudobulbs 1.5-3 cm apart on rhizome, oblong or ovoid, (1-)2.5-6 × (0.5-)1-1.7 cm, corrugate and deeply channeled when dried, with 2 leaves at apex and several sheaths at base; sheaths ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 2-6 cm, leathery. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, (5-)10-17 × (0.4-)0.7-1.9 cm, papery, base attenuate to inconspicuous petiole, apex long acuminate. Inflorescence heteranthous, 8-12 cm, basal half embraced in sheaths; raceme 5-7 cm, 2-10-flowered; floral bracts not deciduous at anthesis, ovate-lanceolate, ± cymbiform, 2.5-3.5 cm, papery; pedicel and ovary 20-25 mm. Flowers white, rather large. Sepals lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 30-40 × 10-15 mm, abaxially ± carinate, apex acute. Petals similar to sepals, 9-11 mm wide; lip ovate, concave, nearly as long as sepals, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, subovate, nearly entire; mid-lobe broadly obovate or suboblate, 12-15 mm, margin nearly entire, apex obtuse or emarginate; callus with 5 fimbriate lamellae extending from base of lip to base of mid-lobe, 2 inner lateral lamellae continuing to apex of mid-lobe, elevated, platelike, and crenulate, median lamella continuing as a prominent vein. Column slightly arcuate, 20-30 mm, both sides winged; wings widened from base to apex, ca. 1.5 mm wide on one side in upper part, apex emarginate or subtruncate. Fl. May. 2n = 40.

On large rocks along forest margins; 1700-1800 m. S Xizang [Bhutan, NE India, Nepal].