贡山贝母兰 gong shan bei mu lan

Rhizome short, stout, densely covered with broken brown sheaths. Pseudobulbs nearly tufted, subobovoid-globose to subellipsoid, 1.3-1.8 cm × 7-9 mm, ± narrowed at base, grooved or wrinkled when dried, sheathing at base, with 2 leaves at apex. Leaf blade narrowly obovate-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or occasionally subelliptic, (4-)7-13 × 1-2(-3) cm, leathery, base contracted into a short petiole, apex acuminate. Inflorescence synanthous, 8-12.5 cm, lower part enclosed in scaly sheaths; rachis 2-4-flowered; floral bracts caducous; pedicel and ovary 12-22 mm. Flowers creamy yellow. Sepals subelliptic, 32-35 × ca. 15 mm, apex acute; lateral sepals slightly narrower than dorsal sepal. Petals subrhombic-elliptic, 32-35 × ca. 17 mm; lip ca. 22 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes nearly suborbicular, entire, with brown veins; mid-lobe ovate, ca. 8 × 6 mm; callus with 3 deep yellow lamellae, lateral lamellae extending to middle of mid-lobe, median keel shorter. Column ca. 13 mm, both sides winged; wings ca. 1.5 mm wide on one side in upper part. Fl. May.

● On branches in thickets or Picea forests, on snow not melted at flowering time; 2800-3200 m. NW Yunnan.