Cyrtosia lindleyana J. D. Hooker & Thomson in J. D. Hooker, Ill. Himal. Pl. t. 22. 1855; Erythrorchis lindleyana (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) H. G. Reichenbach; Galeola kwangsiensis Handel-Mazzetti; G. lindleyana var. unicolor Handel-Mazzetti; G. matsudae Hayata.

Herbs, tall. Rhizome stout, 2-3 cm in diam., with sparse ovate scales at nodes. Stem erect, reddish brown, 1-3 m tall, base ± ligneous, ± hairy or glabrous with age, nodes with broadly ovate scales. Panicle composed of terminal and lateral racemes; lateral raceme 2-5(-10) cm, several to 10-flowered, usually very shortly pedunculate; sterile bracts at base of raceme ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm, nearly glabrous; floral bracts ovate, 5-6 mm, abaxially rusty pubescent; pedicel and ovary often ± curved, 1.5-2 cm, densely rusty pubescent. Flowers yellow, ca. 3.5 cm in diam. Sepals elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 1.6-2 × 0.9-1.1 cm, abaxially densely shortly rusty tomentose and carinate; lateral sepals often slightly longer than dorsal sepal. Petals broadly ovate to suborbicular, slightly shorter than dorsal sepal, 1.2-1.4 cm wide, glabrous; lip concave, cup-shaped, nearly subglobose, ca. 1.3 cm in diam., adaxially papillate-hairy, near base with 1 smooth callus, unlobed, margin shortly fimbriate. Column clavate, ca. 7 mm; anther cap papillate-spinescent. Fruit pale brown, suboblong, 8-12(-20) × 1.7-2.4 cm; fruiting pedicel 1-1.5 cm. Seeds with broad wing, wings 1-1.3 mm wide. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct.

Sparse forests, sparse thickets, humus-rich and moist rocky places along valleys; 700-3000 m. Anhui, W Guangdong, N Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Xizang, W to SE Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal].