宝岛鸢尾兰 bao dao yuan wei lan

Hippeophyllum pumilum Fukuyama ex S. C. Chen & K. Y. Lang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 36: 72. 1998; ?Oberonia insularis Hayata.

Rhizome creeping, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., slender, branched, loosely covered by scalelike sheaths at nodes. Stems short, arising at intervals of 5-25 mm along rhizome, 3-5-leaved. Leaves ± distichous-equitant, laterally compressed, elliptic, oblong, or lanceolate, 10-25 × 3-8 mm, fleshy, base not articulate. Peduncle suberect, 3-6 cm; rachis ca. 2.5 cm, densely with many small flowers; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. Flowers opening widely, pale green to pale brownish green, ca. 2 mm in diam.; pedicel and ovary green, ca. 2 mm. Sepals ± reflexed, ovate, slightly concave, 0.8-1 × 0.4-0.5 mm, apex acute. Petals slightly falcate, linear, ca. 1 × 0.2 mm, apex obtuse; lip narrowly ovate-oblong in outline, 1.3-1.7 × ca. 0.6 mm, deeply bilobed, margin irregularly serrate; apical lobes slightly divergent or slightly recurved, linear-lanceolate, ca. 0.7 mm. Column short. Fl. Apr-May or Dec.

● Forests; 800-1600 m. C Taiwan.

Oberonia insularis may prove to be conspecific with O. pumila, in which case it would have priority.

The name Hippeophyllum pumilum was first published by T. P. Lin (Native Orchids Taiwan 3: 141. 1987) but not validly so because no type was indicated (Vienna Code, Art. 37.1). Consequently, Oberonia pumila, as published by S. S. Ying (Coloured Ill. Indig. Orchids Taiwan 2: 610. 1990), was not validly published either.