奇瓣红春素 qi ban hong chun su

Plants terrestrial, autotrophic. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 1-1.4 × 0.7-1 cm, 2- or 3-noded, usually borne on a rhizome; rhizome subterranean, 4-5 × 0.4-0.5 mm. Leaves 3-5, lorate, 40-50 × 0.6-0.9 cm, contracted at base into a petiole-like stalk, apex acute; petiole-like stalk not articulate, basally cylindric-tubular and sometimes equitant to form a pseudostem. Inflorescence arising from base of pseudobulb, 19-21 cm; peduncle with several sheaths 4-5 cm; rachis 2-4-flowered; floral bracts greenish, linear-lanceolate, 25-30 mm. Flowers not scented, 6-7 cm in diam.; pedicel and ovary 30-35 mm; sepals and petals white-green, tinged brownish or pinkish, with green venation; lip similar in color to sepals and petals but somewhat paler and usually with red spots along basal margins of lateral lobes. Sepals oblong-lanceolate or suboblong, 30-40 × 6-7 mm, apex acuminate. Petals similar to sepals though sometimes slightly shorter; lip ovate, 19-21 × 9-10 mm, not fused to basal margins of column, unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed; lateral lobes suborbicular; mid-lobe oblong-ovate, ca. 15 × 6 mm, apex obtuse; disk without keels or lamellae. Column slightly arcuate, greenish, flushed ivory-white at apex, ca. 13 mm; pollinia 4, in 2 pairs. Fl. Jan-Feb.

● Open forests; ca. 1000 m. S Yunnan.

This species may be based on a plant with deformed flowers. The petals of the type appear deformed and the lip is petaloid, lacking the callus ridges that are typical of the species in this group. Its relationship with Cymbidium tortisepalum needs further investigation.