剑叶鸢尾兰 jian ye yuan wei lan

Malaxis ensiformis Smith in Rees, Cycl. 22: Malaxis no. 14. 1812; Iridorkis ensiformis (Smith) Kuntze; Oberonia iridifolia Lindley, nom. illeg. superfl.; O. trilobata Griffith.

Plants rather large, with a short stem. Leaves subbasal, 5 or 6, distichous-equitant, laterally compressed, ensiform, slightly falcate, 15-50 × 1.2-2.2 cm, thick, veins obscure, base articulate, apex acuminate or long acuminate. Peduncle subterete, 17-35 cm, wingless, with several sterile bracts and sometimes a large, foliaceous bract; rachis stout; raceme 10-25 cm or longer, 5-6 mm in diam., many flowered; floral bracts suberect, suboblong, 2-3 mm, irregularly denticulate on apical margin, apex long acuminate. Flowers green; pedicel and ovary 1-2 mm. Dorsal sepal broadly oblong-ovate, 1.2-1.5 × 0.8-1 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals broadly ovate, similar to dorsal sepal in size. Petals ovate-lanceolate, 1.2-1.5 × 0.6-0.7 mm, margin ± erose, apex acuminate; lip broadly ovate-oblong in outline, 1.8-2.2 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ± subquadrate or suborbicular, margin erose; mid-lobe broadly obovate or suboblate, to 1.2 mm wide, bilobed, margin slightly erose; disk with 2 calli, lateral at base of lateral lobes. Column short, stout. Capsule obovoid-ellipsoid, 4-5.5 × ca. 2.5 mm, ridged; fruiting pedicel ca. 0.5 mm. Fl. Sep-Nov, fr. next Mar. 2n = 30.

Epiphytic on trees in forests; 700-1600 m. N Guangxi, S and W Yunnan [India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].