琼岛沼兰 qiong dao zhao lan

Basionym: Malaxis insularis Tang & F. T. Wang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 12: 36. 1974.

Plants terrestrial, sometimes epiphytic. Stem erect, ± prostrate at base, cylindric, 3-5 cm, 3-5 mm in diam., fleshy, with several nodes, enclosed in leaf sheaths in early stage. Leaves (2-)4 or 5; petiole 2-4 cm, sheathlike, amplexicaul; blade obliquely ovate or oblong-ovate, 3-8 × 2-3 cm, margin slightly crisped, apex acuminate or subacute. Inflorescence erect; peduncle 10-18 cm, wingless; rachis 2-4 cm, laxly 5-10-flowered; floral bracts reflexed, ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 mm, apex long acuminate. Flowers 4-5 mm in diam.; pedicel and ovary 6-7 mm. Dorsal sepal orbicular or broadly elliptic, concave, ca. 3 × 2.8 mm, 3-veined, apex obtuse; lateral sepals suboblong, ca. 1.5 mm wide, 3-veined, apex obtuse. Lip superior, ± broadly ovate-triangular or ovate-suborbicular in outline, ca. 3.5 mm, base with a pair of auricles spreading backward like bat wings embracing column, apex abruptly contracted and shallowly 2-lobed. Column short, stout, apex with 2 erect armlike appendages. Fl. Jun.

● Dense forests, cliffs. W Hainan.