美丽地宝兰 mei li di bao lan

Plants 11-20 cm tall. Pseudobulbs tuberous, globose to ovoid, borne on a very short rhizome and forming dense clusters, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., usually partially covered in fibrous sheaths. Leaves 2 or 3, not fully developed at anthesis, broadly ovate-elliptic, 7-11 × 2.5-3 cm in flowering individuals, apex acute; petiole-like stalk enclosed in several sheaths and forming a pseudostem 4-7 cm. Inflorescence 6-13 cm, shorter than or subequal in height to leaves; peduncle with 2 or 3 tubular sheaths ca. 2 cm; rachis pendulous, 1.5-2.5 cm, densely more than 10-flowered; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, 6-7 × 2-3 mm, membranous, apex acute. Flowers not opening widely, white, lip with a yellow disk and purple venation, sweetly scented; pedicel and ovary 6-8 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, 8-9 × ca. 2 mm, apex obtuse or acute; lateral sepals elliptic-oblong, slightly oblique, 9-10 × ca. 2.5 mm, apex acute and usually slightly twisted. Petals subovate or oblong-ovate, 7-8 × ca. 2.5 mm, apex acuminate and slightly twisted; lip subovate, 6-7 × ca. 4 mm, slightly contracted near middle, conic-saccate at base, unlobed, apical margin slightly crisped, apex obtuse-rounded; disk with a central callus composed of 3-5 longitudinal, fleshy and irregular crestlike ridges. Column 3-3.5 mm, with a short column foot. Fl. Apr-May.

Rocky substrates near rivers, grasslands; 400-1400 m. NW and SE Yunnan [Thailand, Vietnam].