柱兰 zhu lan

Basionym: Eria marginata Rolfe, Gard. Chron., ser. 3, 5: 200. 1889; Pinalia marginata (Rolfe) Kuntze.

Plants 10-20 cm tall, without distinct rhizomes. Pseudobulbs tufted, clavate, 5-10 cm × 2-6 mm, above middle conspicuously dilated, apex 2- or 3(or 4)-leaved. Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-11 × 1-2 cm, apex acute. Inflorescences 1 or 2, subterminal, usually with 2 flowers on a short peduncle ca. 5 mm; floral bracts 2, opposite, oblong or ovate, 10-12 × 5-7 mm, acute. Flowers fragrant, white; lip lateral lobes with purple edges, mid-lobe with lighter purple edges and patch; pedicel and ovary ca. 1.3 cm, with dense white cottony hairs. Sepals with white cottony hairs abaxially; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, ca. 15 × 5 mm, obtuse; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, nearly as long as dorsal sepal, ca. 6 mm wide, obtuse. Petals oblong-lanceolate, ca. 12 × 4 mm, obtuse, glabrous; lip obovate in outline, nearly 1 cm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes suberect, subovate, apex incurved and slightly covering mid-lobe; mid-lobe subrhombic-flabellate, ca. 5 × 5 mm, thickened and papillate except on margin, base with a suborbicular projection, apex emarginate; disk with a longitudinal thickened band running from base to mid-lobe and a central keel. Column ca. 3 mm; foot ca. 4 mm. Capsule obovoid-cylindric, ca. 3 cm × 5 mm. Fl. Feb-Mar, fr. May.

Epiphytic on tree trunks at forest margins; 1000-2000 m. S Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand].