雉尾叉柱兰 zhi wei cha zhu lan

Cheirostylis taichungensis S. S. Ying.

Plants 7-14 cm tall. Rhizome reddish, torose, 4-10 × 0.2-0.5 cm, internodes 1-1.4 cm; roots hairlike, in rows along rhizome internodes. Stem erect, 1.5-3 cm, 2-4-leaved. Leaves subrosulate, ovate to ovate-oblong, 1.5-3 × 1.2-1.7 cm, papery, glabrous, adaxially with dark green reticulate venation, abaxially paler, base obtuse, apex obtuse or subacute; petiole-like base and sheath reddish at base, 0.4-1 cm. Inflorescence 5-12 cm, slender, pubescent at base, becoming ± glabrous above, with 2 or 3 sterile bracts; rachis 1-3 cm, 3-10-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 2-3 × ca. 1 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate. Flowers small; ovary and pedicel greenish brown, 5-8 mm, glabrous. Sepals pale greenish brown or white, 4-4.5 mm, basal 1/2 connate and forming a tube, slightly pubescent or glabrous; free apical lobes triangular, 2-2.7 mm, apex obtuse. Petals white, obliquely falcate, 4-5 × 1-1.5 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse; lip white, 5-6 mm, longer than sepals, 3-partite; hypochile saccate, containing 2 bifid calli and often with keel at center; mesochile short; epichile white, with green patch near base, orbicular in outline, 7-9 mm, 2-lobed; lobes suborbicular or flabellate, margin laciniate with 7-9 deep linear divisions, each division 1-1.5 mm. Column erect, 2.4-3 mm; stelidia straight, parallel to rostellum arms and equal in length; anther ovoid, 1.5-2 mm, apex with 1 triangular reddish brown spot; pollinia ca. 1.2 mm; rostellum arms ca. 2 mm. Fl. Feb-May.

Forests; 700-2500 m. S Taiwan [Vietnam].