叉枝牛角兰 cha zhi niu jiao lan

Ritaia himalaica (J. D. Hooker) King & Pantling.

Plants epiphytic or lithophytic. Stems clustered, pendulous, (1.5-)2-7 cm, dichotomously branched, completely enclosed in scalelike sheaths; sheaths reddish brown or pale reddish brown, ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 mm, membranous, apex long acuminate. Leaf blade linear or narrowly oblong, 3.5-6.5 × 0.3-0.7 cm, fleshy, obliquely notched, acute; petiole 4-6 cm. Inflorescence arising from leaf base, subcapitate, 1- or 2-flowered; peduncle and pedicel ca. 4 mm, ± pubescent; peduncle with 2 sheaths; floral bracts ovate, 4-5 × 1.5-2 mm, sheathing, acute to acuminate. Flowers small, white spotted with purplish red, column yellow. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 5-6 × 2-3.5 mm, abaxially pubescent; lateral sepals broadly ovate, 3.5-4.5 mm, abaxially pubescent. Petals linear, 3.5-4.5 × ca. 1 mm, glabrous; lip suboblong, cymbiform, 2-3 mm, thickened, base deeply saccate, margin entire, apex with a cushionlike callus abaxially; disk slightly hairy. Column very short, apical arms horn-shaped, foot short. Capsule ellipsoid, 6-7 × 3-4 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr-Jun.

Epiphytic on trees or lithophytic on rocks in forests; 900-1700 m. SE Xizang, S Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam].