凹唇石仙桃 ao chun shi xian tao

Coelogyne convallariae E. C. Parish & H. G. Reichenbach, Flora 55: 277. 1872.

Rhizome creeping, covered with scaly sheaths. Pseudobulbs narrowly ovoid, 2.5-5 × ca. 1.5 cm, apex 2-leaved. Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, 15-20 × 2-2.5 cm, obtuse or shortly acuminate; petiole 1-2 cm. Inflorescence arising with young pseudobulb and young leaves from base of last pseudobulb, 15-20 cm; rachis 10- or more flowered; floral bracts caducous, linear, 1-1.5 cm. Flowers fragrant, white or creamy white, sometimes with a pale green center, 5-6 mm in diam.; pedicel and ovary ca. 5 mm. Dorsal sepal suboblong or elliptic, ca. 5 × 2-2.5 mm, obtuse; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, slightly wider than dorsal sepal. Petals ovate-elliptic, 4-4.5 × ca. 2.5 mm, obtuse; lip shallowly saccate, ca. 4 mm, apex emarginate, base with 3 longitudinal lamellae ca. 1 mm. Column ca. 1.7 mm, stout, apex with a broad wing ca. 1.4 mm high; rostellum nearly transversely oblong, ca. 1.5 mm wide. Fl. unknown.

Epiphytic on trees in forests; ca. 1500 m. SW Yunnan [NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

Pholidota convallariae is represented in China by var. convallariae; P. convallariae var. breviscapa Deori & J. Joseph, from India, is distinguished by an up to 7-flowered inflorescence, floral bracts ca. 7 × 7 mm, and five keels on the lip.