宋氏绶草 song shi shou cao

Plants 8-20 cm tall. Roots up to ca. 5 mm in diam. Leaves 5-7, spreading, elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, 2-6.5 × 0.5-1.2 cm, apex acute, basally contracted into a distinct petiole-like stalk. Inflorescence erect, 8.5-21 cm, basally sparsely glandular pubescent, distally densely so; rachis 2.5-6 cm, with several to many spirally arranged flowers; floral bracts obovate, elliptic, or rhombic, sparsely glandular pubescent, apex acuminate. Flowers white; ovary green, 4-6 mm, glandular pubescent. Dorsal sepal forming a hood with petals, oblong, ca. 6 × 2 mm, outer surface glandular pubescent, apex acute; lateral sepals narrowly oblong, slightly oblique, 5-6 × ca. 0.8 mm, outer surface glandular pubescent, apex acute. Petals oblanceolate, slightly oblique, 5-6 × ca. 0.8 mm, apex obtuse; lip oblong, 5-6 × ca. 2 mm, basal portion with 2 clavate glands, lateral margins erect and shallowly erose, apex truncate and recurved; disk glabrous. Column erect, ca. 1.5 mm; anther ovoid; pollinia ca. 1.5 mm; rostellum triangular. Fl. May.

● Open moist soil along streams, grasslands and mixed deciduous forests; 800-900 m. Gansu.

This taxon is clearly very similar to Spiranthes hongkongensis. Further comparative studies, including observations of chromosome numbers, are required.