叉柱兰 cha zhu lan

Cheirostylis derchiensis S. S. Ying; C. hungyehensis T. P. Lin.

Plants 13-17 cm tall. Rhizome olive-green to pale yellow, moniliform, 7-12 cm; roots hairlike, in narrow lines along rhizome internodes. Stem ascending, 1-2 cm, 2-5-leaved. Leaves subrosulate, abaxially slightly paler green and tinged with purple, adaxially dark green, ovate, 1-3.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, abaxially sometimes with variegated venation and minutely hairy, base cordate, apex acute; petiole-like base and sheath pink to red, 1-1.5 cm, glabrous. Inflorescence pink, 10-15 cm, pubescent, with 1-4 sterile bracts; rachis 1.5-2 cm, 5-7-flowered; floral bracts sheathing, ovate-lanceolate, 5-6 × 1-2 mm, apex acute. Flowers not widely spreading; ovary and pedicel 5-10 mm, glabrous. Sepals greenish brown, 4-4.5 mm, connate for ca. 3/5 of length and forming a tube, glabrous on outer surface; free apical lobes pink, triangular, 1.8-2 mm, apex obtuse. Petals appressed to dorsal sepal, white with single green vein, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2-5 × 1-1.5 mm, apex obtuse; lip simple, white, tinged with green, spatulate, 3-5 × 1-2.3 mm, glabrous, base attenuate, margin entire, apex obtuse. Column 2-3 mm; stelidia variable, parallel to rostellum or reflexed, usually much shorter than rostellum arms; anther broadly ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm; viscidium 1-1.5 mm; rostellum arms elongate, 1-1.5 mm. Fl. Mar-Apr.

● Damp rocks in forests and along valleys; 300-1500 m. Hong Kong, C and S Taiwan.