钟兰 zhong lan

Basionym: Eria thao Gagnepain, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., sér. 2, 22: 503. 1950; E. bulbophylloides Tang & F. T. Wang (1974), not C. Schweinfurth (1936).

Rhizome well developed, slightly dilated at joint. Pseudobulbs borne 1-3 cm apart from each other, ovoid or globose, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., enclosed in 2 sheaths, apex 1-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic or oblong-elliptic, (3-)5-10 × (1-)1.5-2 cm, leathery, base attenuate into a petiole 1.5-2 cm, apex obtuse. Inflorescence terminal, ca. 2 cm, 1-flowered, with dense, reddish brown, cottony hairs; floral bracts broadly triangular, ca. 1 mm. Flowers yellow, lip yellowish red, tinged with purple; pedicel and ovary ca. 5 mm, with dense, reddish brown, cottony hairs. Sepals with dense, reddish brown, cottony hairs abaxially; dorsal sepal lanceolate-oblong, ca. 17 × 6-8 mm, obtuse; lateral sepals triangular-ovate, ca. 20 × 6-9 mm, obtuse. Petals elliptic, ca. 15 × 5 mm, obtuse; lip obovate-rhombic in outline, nearly ca. 15 × 10 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subtriangular-ovate, ca. 4 × 3 mm; mid-lobe suboblong, ca. 10 × 6 mm, margin conspicuously thickened; disk with 3 lamellae, central 1 inconspicuous, lateral 2 much higher. Column ca. 6 mm, apex dilated, shortly winged, foot ca. 8 mm. Capsule ellipsoid-cylindric, ca. 3.1 × 1 cm, with sparse, reddish brown, cottony hairs. Fl. Aug-Oct, fr. Dec-Feb. 2n = 42.

Epiphytic on trees or lithophytic on rocks in forests; 600-1200 m. S Hainan [Vietnam].