维西贝母兰 wei xi bei mu lan

Rhizome short, ca. 2 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs close together, less than 15 mm apart along rhizomes, conic to cylindric, when young covered by sheaths, 3-5 × 1-1.5 cm. Leaves 2 per pseudobulb, terminal, convolute, oblanceolate, 20-30 × 2.5-3 cm, leathery. Inflorescence proteranthous, erect, ca. 15 cm, 2- or 3-flowered; floral bracts caducous, linear, ca. 2 cm. Flowers opening simultaneously, spreading, creamy yellow; pedicel and ovary ca. 2 cm. Dorsal sepal elliptic, ca. 35 × 17 mm, 7-veined, apex acute; lateral sepals tinged with deep yellow, lanceolate, ca. 35 × 12 mm, 7-veined, base oblique, apex acuminate, mucronate. Petals linear, ca. 35 × 6 mm, 5-veined, apex acuminate; lip firmly attached to column, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, suborbicular, dentate, veins brown, sometimes with 2 eyelike blots at base; 3 crested lamellae extending from base of lip with lateral lamellae terminating at middle of mid-lobe and median lamella extending toward tip of mid-lobe. Column ca. 20 mm, with 2 yellow wings; pollinia 4, suborbicular. Capsule not seen. Fl. May-Jun.

● On tree trunks in subtropical evergreen forests; 2600-3000 m. W Yunnan.