云南石仙桃 yun nan shi xian tao

Pholidota kouytcheensis Gagnepain.

Rhizomes creeping, 4-6 mm in diam., branched, densely covered by leathery sheaths; roots 1.5-2 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs usually spaced 1-3 cm on rhizome, subcylindric, (1.5-)2-5 cm × 6-8 mm, somewhat attenuate toward apex, embraced by leathery sheaths when young, apex 2-leaved. Leaves shortly petiolate, lanceolate, 6-15 × 0.7-1.8(-2.5) cm, papery, veins plicate, subobtuse. Inflorescence arising with young leaves from rhizome near base of last pseudobulb, 7-9(-12) cm; rachis 15-20-flowered, sometimes slightly flexuous toward base; floral bracts deciduous during flowering, ovate-rhombic, 6-8 × 4.5-5.5 mm. Flowers white or pale flesh-colored, 3-4 mm in diam.; pedicel and ovary 3.5-5 mm. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate-elliptic or ovate-oblong, slightly concave, 3.2-3.8 × 2-2.5 mm, dorsally slightly carinate; lateral sepals broadly ovate-lanceolate, slightly narrower than dorsal sepal, concave, dorsally conspicuously carinate. Petals similar to dorsal sepal, neither concave nor carinate; lip sigmoid, oblong-obovate in outline, ca. 4 × 3 mm, apex subtruncate or obtuse and often inconspicuously emarginate, slightly contracted and concave near base, forming a cupular or subglobose sac, ecallose; epichile 2.8-4 mm, abruptly recurved. Column 2-2.5 mm, apex winged and with 2 small teeth on both sides; rostellum broadly ligulate. Capsule obovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm × 6 mm, 3-ridged; fruiting pedicel 2-4 mm. Fl. May, fr. Sep-Oct.

Epiphytic on trees in forests or lithophytic on rocks along valleys; 1200-1700 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, W Hubei, W Hunan, NE to S Sichuan, S Yunnan [N Vietnam].