保山兰 bao shan lan

Plants epiphytic, autotrophic. Pseudobulbs ovoid-globose, bilaterally flattened, 3.5-4.5 × 2.5-3 cm, partially enclosed in leaf bases. Leaves 2-7, distichous, somewhat oblanceolate, 20-40 × 2.5-3.2 cm, articulate 3-7 cm from base, base contracted into a distinct petiole-like stalk, apex acuminate and apiculate. Inflorescence arising from base of pseudobulb, suberect or arching, 29-40 cm; peduncle with several long sheaths; rachis 6-9-flowered; floral bracts triangular, ca. 5 mm. Flowers scented, 5-8 cm in diam.; sepals and petals pale green-yellow to pale brown-yellow, sometimes tinged pinkish on outer surfaces; lip white, with a purple-red, submarginal, V-shaped patch and a central line of same color on mid-lobe, lamellae yellowish with many purple-red spots; column yellow, with a few red spots on ventral surface. Sepals lanceolate, concave, 45-58 × 12-15 mm, apex acute. Petals lanceolate, ca. 50 × 8 mm, apex acute; lip broadly subovate, ca. 33 × 25 mm, base fused to basal margins of column for 2-3 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes suborbicular, ca. 7 × 7 mm; mid-lobe ovate, ca. 12 × 9 mm; disk with 2 glabrous lamellae extending to base of mid-lobe. Column 29-34 mm. Fl. Mar.

● Forests; 1600-1700 m. SW Yunnan (Longling).

This is a variable taxon. Its pseudobulbs and leaves resemble those of Cymbidium tigrinum, and its flowers are intermediate between C. lowianum and C. tigrinum. Lip patterning is variable, with the apical purple V-shape sometimes being broken up and irregular. It may be a hybrid between the above named species. The artificial hybrid of C. lowianum and C. tigrinum (registered as C. ‘Lowtiger’) matches it closely.