Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae [Draft]

APHYLLORCHIS Blume, Bijdr., t. 77. 1825.

无叶兰属  wu ye lan shu

Sinorchis S. C. Chen.

Leafless, holomycotrophic terrestrial herbs. Rhizome usually short, creeping. Roots fascicled, spreading, fleshy. Stem erect, fleshy, unbranched, usually pale brown, with loose cymbiform or cylindrical sheaths enclosing proximal nodes and scale-like sterile bracts at distal nodes, glabrous. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, few- to many-flowered; floral bracts membranous. Flowers small to relatively large, resupinate, not opening fully; pedicel and ovary usually elongate; sepals similar, free, often weakly concave-cymbiform; petals similar to but shorter and thinner than the sepals; lip adnate to the base of the column, 2-partite; hypochile usually small, shortly winged; epichile hinged at junction with hypochile and often deflexed, entire or obscurely lobed; column long, slender, arcuate; anther borne at apical margin of clinandrium, suberect, 2-locular; filament extremely short; auricles 2, small, placed laterally either side of anther; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, caudicles absent, viscidium large; stigma ovate, concave, subterminal; rostellum very small. Capsule usually pendulous.

About 30 species: mainly tropical Asia and the Himalayas, as far north as Japan and south to Australia; five species (one endemic) in China.

1a. Lip entire, similar to the petals........................................................................................ 1. A. simplex

1b.                                                                                                   Lip 2-partite, distinct from the petals.

2a. Floral bracts shorter than the ovary.

3a. Dorsal sepal 9–11 mm, apex obtuse to subacute................................................... 2. A. montana

3b. Dorsal sepal 30–35 mm, apex long-cuspidate......................................................... 3. A. caudata

2b.                                                                                                   Floral bracts exceeding the ovary.

4a. Rachis 19–22 cm; flowers yellowish-green; floral bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, 3–4 mm wide 4. A. alpina

4b. Rachis up to 6 cm; flowers pale purplish-brown; floral bracts ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 6–8 mm wide        5. A. gollanii

1. Aphyllorchis simplex T. Tang & F. T. Wang, Acta Phytotax. 1(1): 67. 1951.

 单唇无叶兰  dan chun wu ye lan

Sinorchis simplex (T. Tang & F. T. Wang) S. C. Chen

Plant 48–53 cm tall. Rhizome short, 4–6 mm in diam., fleshy, densely-noded. Roots elongate, 1.5–2 mm in diam. Stem erect, covered in tubular sheaths towards base; proximal internodes 7–12 mm, distal internodes much longer; tubular sheaths 4–18 mm. Rachis 18–22 cm, laxly 10–13-flowered; floral bracts reflexed, linear-lanceolate, ca. 10 mm, 3-veined. Flowers pale brownish-white, suberect; pedicel and ovary 15–22 mm, sparsely glandular puberulent; sepals sublanceolate-oblong, ca. 10 Χ 2–3 mm, apex subacute; petals similar to but slightly shorter than the sepals, suboblong, thin-textured; lip unmodified, entire, similar to the petals; column ca. 8 mm, apex slightly dilated, with 2 silver auricles at the apex and a linear appendage on the ventral surface towards the apex; appendage 0.7–1 mm tall; rostellum ovate, apex emarginate. Fl. Aug.

* Sandy soils in thickets, rocky slopes. E Guangdong.

Probably a peloric form of A. montana, with which it agrees in all characters except the lip.

2. Aphyllorchis montana H. G. Reichenbach, Linnaea 41: 57. 1877.

 无叶兰  wu ye lan

Aphyllorchis benguentensis Ames; A. prainii J. D. Hooker; A. purpurea Fukuyama; A. tanegashimensis Hayata; A. unguiculata Rolfe ex Downie.

Plant 43–70 cm tall. Rhizome short, fleshy, densely-noded. Roots thick, elongate, spreading. Stem erect, slender, bearing several membranous sheaths at base and sterile bracts above, purplish; proximal sheaths tubular, 5–20 mm; sterile bracts 10–13 mm. Rachis 10–20 cm, laxly few- to more than 10-flowered; floral bracts reflexed, linear-lanceolate, 6–14 Χ 2–2.5 mm, shorter than the ovary. Flowers small, spreading more or less horizontally, becoming pendulous, pale yellow to yellowish-brown; pedicel and ovary slender, 15–20 mm, glabrous or sometimes slightly puberulous; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to obovate, cymbiform, 9–11 Χ 3–4 mm, apex obtuse to subacute, margins revolute, 3-veined; midrib of dorsal sepal scabrous near apex on abaxial surface; lateral sepals slightly shorter than the dorsal sepal, flat, margins revolute, 3-veined; petals oblong-elliptic, shorter than the sepals, apex subacute, thin-textured, 3-veined; lip fleshy, 7–9 mm, 2-partite; hypochile slightly concave, ca. 2 mm, irregularly verrucose inside, with 2 small triangular to triangular-lanceolate wings; epichile ovate-rhombic, 5–7 mm, obscurely 3-lobed, margins slightly undulate and minutely erose; disc minutely warty; column 7–9 mm, slightly arcuate, apex dilated. Fl. Jul–Sep. 2n=40.

Open forests; 700–1500 m. E Guangxi, Guizhou, S Hainan, N and C Taiwan, W and S Yunnan [Cambodia, NE India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

3. Aphyllorchis caudata Rolfe ex Downie, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 415. 1925.

 尾萼无叶兰  wei e wu ye lan

Plant up to 1 m tall. Stem erect, robust, bearing many membranous sheaths up to 4 cm. Rachis up to 50 cm, laxly many-flowers; floral bracts reflexed, narrowly lanceolate, 40–45 Χ 5–6 mm, slightly shorter than the ovary, apex acuminate. Flowers relatively large, ca. 4 cm in diam., creamy white to purplish-brown; pedicel and ovary 45–50 mm, glabrous; dorsal sepal cymbiform, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 30–35 Χ ca. 8 mm, apex long-cuspidate, sparsely puberulous abaxially; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal though slightly narrower, flat; petals lanceolate, ca. 20 Χ 6–7 mm, apex acuminate, thin-textured, slightly puberulous along abaxial midrib; lip fleshy, 14–17 mm, 2-partite; hypochile small, concave, 2–3 mm, with 2 ligulate wings ca. 4 mm; epichile ovate, ca. 12 Χ 5 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes semiorbicular, incurved; mid-lobe apex acuminate; disc densely papillose; column 11–14 mm, slightly arcuate. Fl. Jul.–Aug. 2n=36.

Forests; 1200 m. S Yunnan [Thailand].

4. Aphyllorchis alpina King & Pantling, Ann. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 8: 261. 1898.

 高山无叶兰  gao shan wu ye lan

Plant 75–100 cm tall. Rhizome elongate, covered in scales. Stem erect, robust, bearing several membranous sheaths; sheaths tubular, 1–4cm. Rachis 19–22 cm, laxly 10–20-flowered, puberulent; floral bracts reflexed, linear to linear-lanceolate, 25–30 Χ 3–4 mm, exceeding the ovary. Flowers medium-sized, spreading more or less horizontally, yellowish-green; pedicel and ovary stout, 20–28 mm, puberulous; sepals ovate-lanceolate, slightly cymbiform, 18–23 Χ 6–7 mm, apex acuminate-caudate and slightly reflexed; petals similar to the sepals, 14–17 Χ 5–7 mm, mid-vein thickened; lip 14–17 mm, 2-partite; hypochile subequal in length to the epichile, concave and forming a small sac, with 2 erect wings; epichile ovate, apex acute, margins usually involute; column stout, 10–13 mm, slightly arcuate. Capsule elliptic, ca. 30 Χ 8 mm in diam. Fl. Jul, fr. Sep.

Forests, river banks; 2100–2600 m. SE Xizang [India, Nepal, Sikkim].

5. Aphyllorchis gollanii Duthie, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 71: 42. 1902.

 大花无叶兰  da hua wu ye lan

Plant 40–50 cm tall. Rhizome short, subcylindrical. Roots sparse, thick, fleshy. Stem erect, robust, bearing many sheaths, tinged with purple; sheaths mostly tubular, membranous, 15–35 mm. Rachis stout, up to 6 cm, with 10 or more flowers; floral bracts suberect, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, 15–25 Χ 6–8 mm, exceeding the ovary. Flowers suberect, pale purplish-brown; pedicel and ovary up to 17 mm, puberulous; sepals ovate-lanceolate, ca. 30 Χ 6–7 mm, apex acuminate; petals slightly shorter than the sepals; lip slightly shorter than the petals, 2-partite; hypochile small, slightly concave, winged; epichile subovate, lateral margins reflexed and minutely erose; column ca. 10 mm, distinctly arcuate. Fl. Jun–Jul.

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 2200–2400 m. S Xizang (Zhangmu) [India].

 

 

CEPHALANTHERA L. C. Richard, Mιm. Mus. Paris. 4: 51. 1818.

 头蕊兰属  tou rui lan shu

Callithronum Ehrhart; Dorycheile Reichenbach; Eburophyton A. Heller; Tangtsinia S. C. Chen; Xiphophyllum Ehrhart.

Terrestrial autotrophic or holomycotrophic herbs. Rhizome slender, cylindrical, creeping. Roots fasciculate, filiform, fleshy, usually numerous though few in holomycotrophic species. Stem erect, unbranched, leafy, bearing one to a few sub-cymbriform or cylindrical basal. Leaves alternate, plicate, sessile, directly sheathing the stem at base, reduced to membranous sheaths in holomycotrophic species. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, many-, few- or rarely 1-flowered; proximal floral bracts foliaceous and usually longer than the flowers, distal ones much shorter. Flowers resupinate, suberect, weakly spreading and campanulate, or rarely widely spreading, white, pink or yellow; ovary slightly twisted, glabrous; sepals free, similar to each other, subequal; petals slightly shorter than the sepals, more or less connivent with sepals; lip adnate to base of column, 2-partite or rarely simple and not distinct from petals in peloric forms; hypochile with erect lateral lobes that embrace the column, saccate or with a short spur at base; epichile ovate-elliptic, spreading, apex obtuse or acute; disc with 3–7 longitudinal lamellae, or unornamented in peloric forms; column erect, usually bearing 2 narrow lateral wings; anther erect, hinged, 2-locular; pollinia 2, each 2-partite, granular-farinaceous, lacking caudicles and viscidia; stigma concave, rounded; rostellum inconspicuous or absent. Capsule erect.

About 15 species: mainly Europe, N Africa and E Asia, but also in the Himalayas, SE Asia and extending to the west coast of N America; nine species (four endemic) in China.

1a. Holomycotrophic herb lacking green leaves.

 2a. Epichile of lip transversely oblong-elliptic, apex obtuse; lamellae extending from base to middle or slightly above middle of epichile; spur arising from base of hypochile........................................................... 1. C. calcarata

2b. Epichile of lip broadly ovate, apex acute-acuminate; lamellae extending from base almost to the apex of the epichile; spur arising from slightly above the base of hypochile................................................. 2. C. gracilis

1b.                                                                                                                      Leafy autotrophic herb.

3a. Flowers yellow.

4a. Lip simple, similar to petals, lacking lamellae, spurless.................................. 3. C. nanchuanica

4a. Lip 2-partite, clearly distinct from petals, bearing 3–7 longitudinal lamellae, spurred at base 4. C. falcata

3b. Flowers white.

5a. Hypochile of lip spurred at base, the spur protruding between the bases of the lateral sepals.

6a. Plant 2–5-foliate; leaves 2–8 cm................................................................. 5. C. erecta

6b. Plant 6–8-foliate; leaves 6–14 cm.................................................. 6. C. longibracteata

5b. Hypochile of lip saccate or gibbous-saccate, enclosed within the bases of the lateral sepals.

7a. Floral bracts all more than 30 mm, foliaceous and exceeding the ovary 7. C. damasonium

7b. Only the basal one or two floral bracts foliaceous and exceeding the ovary, the distal ones not more than 6 mm.

8a.............................................. Rachis 6–14 cm, laxly 3–14-flowered; lip 7–12 mm            8. C. alpicola

8b. Rachis 1.5–6 cm, subdensely 2–20-flowered; lip 5–7 mm............. 9. C. longifolia

 

1. Cephalanthera calcarata S. C. Chen & K. Y. Lang, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 8: 271. 1986.

 硕距头蕊兰  shuo ju tou rui lan

Achlorophyllous holomycotrophic herb, 8–21 cm tall. Rhizome ca. 5 Χ 0.2 cm in diam., with tubular sheaths 2–7mm. Roots sparse, fleshy. Stem slender, lacking green leaves. Basal sheaths several, tubular, membranous, 7–25 mm. Inflorescence laxly 3–7-flowered; rachis 2.5–5 cm; floral bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, basal ones up to ca. 10 Χ 2 mm, apex acuminate, scarious. Flowers suberect, spreading weakly or not opening at all, white; pedicel and ovary 8–12 mm; sepals equal, lanceolate-oblong, 13–14 Χ ca. 4 mm, apex acute, 5-veined; petals similar to sepals, suboblong to narrowly elliptic, 10–12 Χ ca. 3 mm, apex acute; lip suberect, 8–9 Χ ca. 9 mm, 2-partite, spurred at base; hypochile lobes erect and clasping the column, narrowly triangular, ca. 3.5 mm, apices acute, slightly falcate; epichile transversely oblong-elliptic, ca. 5 Χ 7 mm, apex obtuse, densely papillose towards the apex, with 5–7 longitudinal lamellae extending from near the base to the middle or slightly above the middle; spur located at base of hypochile, protruding between bases of lateral sepals, conical, 2–3 mm, apex obtuse; column ca. 8 mm; stigma circular; anther oblong, ca. 3 mm. Capsule up to 1 cm. Fl. May.

* Leaf litter in broadleaved forest; 2600 m. NW Yunnan.

2. Cephalanthera gracilis S. C. Chen & G. Zhu, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 24: 600. 2002.

 纤细头蕊兰  xian xi tou rui lan

Achlorophyllous holomycotrophic herb, 9–21 cm tall. Rhizome bearing several short scales towards the apex. Stem slender, lacking green leaves. Basal sheaths 2 or 3, tubular, membranous, 8–15 mm. Inflorescence laxly 3- or 4-flowered; rachis 4–8 cm; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, basal ones 12–20 Χ 2–3 mm, apex acuminate. Flowers suberect, spreading weakly, ca. 1 cm; pedicel and ovary 10–18 mm; sepals linear-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, ca. 10 Χ 2–3 mm, obtuse, 1-veined; lateral sepals slightly oblique; petals lanceolate, ca. 8.5 Χ 2.5–3 mm, acuminate, 1-veined; lip suberect, ca. 9 Χ 7 mm, 2-partite, spurred at base; hypochile lobes erect and clasping the column, obliquely triangular-lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm, apices subacute; epichile broadly ovate, 5–6 Χ 5–7 mm, apex acute to acuminate, with 5 fleshy papillose lamellae extending from the base almost to the apex; spur located slightly above the base of the hypochile, protruding between bases of lateral sepals, conical, 1.5–3 mm, apex obtuse; column ca. 6 mm. Fl. May.

* Habitat unknown. NW Yunnan.

3. Cephalanthera nanchuanica (S. C. Chen) P. J. Cribb & S. Gale, in press.

金佛山兰  jin fo shan lan

Tangtsinia nanchuanica S. C. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 10: 193. 1965.

Leafy autotrophic herb, 15–35 cm tall. Rhizome 1–2 Χ 0.4–0.8 cm in diam. Roots 2.5–4 mm in diam. Stem slender, bearing several sheaths at base, 4–6-foliate. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, 6–9 Χ 1.2–3 cm, apex acute to acuminate, 5–7-veined. Inflorescence 3–6-flowered or rarely only 1- or 2-flowered; rachis 3–6 cm; floral bracts deltoid-lanceolate, much reduced, 1–1.5 mm, though the lowest one up to 10 mm. Flowers erect, spreading weakly, yellow, base slightly tinged with white; pedicel and ovary 13–16 mm; sepals narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 15–17 Χ 3.5–4.5(–5.5) mm, apex obtuse, 5-veined; petals obovate-elliptic, 11–13 Χ 4–4.5(–5.5) mm, apex obtuse; lip not distinct, similar to the petals, lacking lamellae, spurless; column subtrigonous-cylindrical, apex slightly dilated, 6–8 mm, yellowish-green, bearing 3 large and 2 small wings; large wings subligulate, white, spotted with silver; smaller wings inconspicuous, similar in colour to column; anther oblong-ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm; filament broad, subovate-lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm; pollinia white, narrowly falcate-ovate, ca. 1.6 mm. Capsule erect, subellipsoid, ca. 2 Χ 0.7 cm in diam. Fl. Apr–Jun.

* Openings in forests, thicket margins, grassy slopes; 700–2100 m. SE Sichuan, N Guizhou.

Probably a peloric form of Cephalanthera falcata.

4. Cephalanthera falcata (Thunberg) Blume, Coll. Orchid. 187. 1858.

 金兰  jin lan

Serapias falcata Thunberg, Fl. Jap.: 28. 1784; Epipactis falcata (Thunberg) Swartz; Cephalanthera bijiangensis S. C. Chen; C. platycheila H. G. Reichenbach; C. japonica A. Gray; C. raymondiae Schlechter; Cymbidium falcatum (Thunberg) Swartz; Pelexia falcata (Thunberg) Sprengel; P. japonica Sprengel.

Leafy autotrophic herb, 20–50 cm tall. Stem slender to somewhat robust, 4–7-foliate. Basal sheaths 3–5, 1–5 cm. Leave elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 5–11 Χ 1.5–3.5 cm, apex acuminate to obtuse. Inflorescence subdensely 5–10-flowered; rachis 3–8 cm; floral bracts usually very small, 1–3 mm and all shorter than the ovary, though occasionally the lower one up to 12 mm and exceeding the ovary. Flowers suberect, spreading weakly, yellow; pedicel and ovary straight to slightly curved, 7–15 mm; sepals rhombic-elliptic, 12–15 Χ 3.5–4.5 mm, apex obtuse to acute, 5-veined; petals similar to sepals but shorter, 8–12 Χ 2.5–4.5 mm, apex obtuse to acute; lip suberect, 8–9 mm, 2-partite, spurred at base; hypochile lobes erect and loosely embracing the column, triangular to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–3.5 mm, apices subacute; epichile transversely elliptic, ca. 5 Χ 8–9 mm, densely papillose towards the apex, bearing 5–7 brownish-orange lamellae; central 3 lamellae 0.5–1 mm tall, outer lamellae shorter; spur protruding between bases of lateral sepals, conical, sometimes slightly incurved, ca. 3 mm, apex obtuse; column 6–7 mm, apex dilated, bearing 2 ovate wings; anther elliptic, ca. 2 mm. Capsule narrowly elliptic, 2–2.5 Χ 0.5–0.6 cm in diam. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n=34.

Forests, grassland, valleys, along streams; 700–2000 m. Anhui, N Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, N Guangdong, N Guangxi, Sichuan, W Yunnan (Bijiang), Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

Cephalanthera bijiangensis, described as a species endemic to Yunnan (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 25: 472. 1987), was distinguished from C. falcata only by the length of the lowest floral bract, which exceeds the ovary. Though the floral bracts of C. falcata are frequently all short (up to ca. 3 mm), several collections seen from Japan indicate that plants of this species do occasionally have a foliaceous lower floral bract that exceeds the ovary. As such, it seems unjustifiable to maintain C. bijiangensis as distinct, and is here treated as a synonym of C. falcata with which it agrees in other respects.

5. Cephalanthera erecta (Thunberg) Blume, Coll. Orchid. 188. 1858.

 银兰  yin lan

Serapias erecta Thunberg, Fl. Jap.: 27. 1784; Epipactis erecta (Thunberg) Swartz; Cephalanthera elegans Schlechter; C. erecta (Thunberg ex A. Murray) Blume var. szechuanica Schlechter; C. szechuanica (Schlechter) Schlechter.

Leafy, autotrophic herb, 10–30 cm tall. Stem slender, bearing 2–4 basal sheaths, 2–4(–5)-foliate. Leaves elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 2–8 Χ 0.7–2.3 cm, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescence sub-laxly 3–10-flowered; rachis 2–8 cm, ridged; basal floral bract foliaceous, lanceolate and up to 80 mm, distal ones narrowly triangular, 1–3 mm. Flowers erect, spreading weakly or not opening at all, white; pedicel and ovary 6–9 mm; sepals oblong-elliptic, 8–10 Χ 2.5–3.5(–4.5) mm, apex acute to obtuse, 5-veined; petals similar to sepals, but slightly shorter; lip 5–6 mm, 2-partite, spurred at base; hypochile lobes erect and embracing the column, ovate-triangular to lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 mm, apices acute; epichile subcordate to broadly ovate, ca. 3 Χ 4–5(–5.5) mm, apex acute, bearing 3 brownish longitudinal lamellae, papillate towards the apex; spur protruding between bases of lateral sepals, conical, 2–3 mm, apex subacute; column 3.5–4 mm, bearing 2 narrowly oblong wings; anther ovate, ca. 1.5 mm. Capsule narrowly elliptic to broadly cylindrical, 1.5 Χ 0.3–0.5 cm in diam. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n=34.

Clearings in forests, thickets; 800–2300 m. Anhui, N Fujian, S Gansu, N Guangdong, N Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

We have been unable to confirm the report of this species from Xizang (Chayu) (Fl. Xizang. 5: 747. 1987).

6. Cephalanthera longibracteata Blume, Coll. Orchid. 188. 1858.

 长苞头蕊兰  chang bao tou rui lan

Epipactis longibracteata (Blume) Wettstein; Limodorum longibracteatum (Blume) Kuntze; Serapias longibracteata (Blume) A. A. Eaton.

Leafy autotrophic herb, 30–50 cm tall. Stem slender to somewhat robust, bearing several basal sheaths, 6–8-foliate, slightly scabrous towards apex. Leaves broadly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 6–14 Χ 1.5–3 cm, apex long-acuminate, scabrous along the veins on the abaxial surface. Inflorescence sub-laxly 8–15-flowered; rachis 3–5.5 cm; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, basal two up to ca. 100 mm, becoming shorter and narrower above. Flowers erect, spreading weakly, white; pedicel and ovary 12–16 mm; sepals narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 10–13 Χ 2–3 mm, apex acute to acuminate; petals ovate, 8.5–9 Χ ca. 3 mm, apex acute to mucronate; lip shorter than petals, 5.5–7 mm, 2-partite, spurred at base; hypochile broadly ovate; hypochile lobes erect and embracing the column, triangular, 2–2.5 mm apices subacute-falcate; epichile ovate-cordate, ca. 3.5 Χ 4–4.5 mm, apex acute, margins slightly undulate, bearing 3 longitudinal lamellae, papillate at the apex; spur protruding slightly between bases of lateral sepals, conical, slightly incurved, 1–1.5 mm, apex obtuse; column 5.5–6.5 mm; anther ovate, ca. 1.5 mm. Capsule erect, 2–2.5 cm. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 30, 32, 33, 34, 36.

Forests, forest margins. S Jilin (Linjiang), Liaoning [Japan, Korea].

7. Cephalanthera damasonium (Miller) Druce, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist. 60: 225. 1906.

 大花头蕊兰  da hua tou rui lan

Serapias damasonium Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. nr. 2. 1768; Cephalanthera yunnanensis Handel- Mazzetti.

Leafy autotrophic herb, 14–36 cm tall. Stem slender, smooth or sometimes scabrous towards the apex, bearing 2–5 basal sheaths, 4–5(–7)-foliate. Leaves elliptic to oblong, becoming smaller and linear-lanceolate above, 3–6 Χ (0.5–)1.2–2 cm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence laxly (1–)2–3(–5)-flowered; rachis 1–2.5 cm; floral bracts foliaceous, lanceolate to elliptic, 30–50 Χ 5–12 mm, all exceeding the ovary. Flowers suberect, 1.5–2.5 cm, rarely opening fully, white; pedicel and ovary 10–12 mm; sepals narrowly obovate-elliptic, 1.6–1.8 cm Χ 5.5–6.5 mm, apex obtuse to acute, 7-veined; petals subobovate, 13–14 Χ ca. 6 mm, apex acute to acuminate; lip 8–9 mm, 2-partite; hypochile gibbous-saccate, enclosed within the bases of the lateral sepals, with an orange-yellow patch near the base of the disc; hypochile lobes erect and loosely embracing the column, ovate-triangular, 2–2.5 mm; epichile transversely elliptic, ca. 4 Χ 8 mm, obtuse-truncate, densely papillose towards the apex, bearing 3 longitudinal orange lamellae in basal half; column 9–11 mm, with 2 narrow, oblong wings; anther ovate, ca. 2.5 mm. Fl. Jun. 2n=36, 54.

Open forest; 2100–2900 m. NW and N Yunnan (Li Jiang, Luquan) [Bhutan, India, Myanmar; SW Asia, Europe].

8. Cephalanthera alpicola Fukuyama, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 52: 242. 1938.

 高山头蕊兰  gao shan tou rui lan

Cephalanthera taiwaniana S. S. Ying

Leafy autotrophic herb, 15–45 cm tall. Stem slender, bearing several basal sheaths, 5–8-foliate. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate to sublanceolate, 4–10 Χ 0.6–2.5 cm, apex acuminate, base slightly contracted. Inflorescence laxly 3–14-flowered; rachis 6–14 cm; basal floral bract linear-lanceolate and slightly exceeding the ovary, distal ones subtriangular, 3–5 mm. Flowers suberect, spreading weakly or remaining closed, white; pedicel and ovary 10–17 mm; sepals narrowly elliptic to suboblong, 10–15 Χ 3–5 mm, apex acute; petals elliptic to sublanceolate, 8–12 Χ 3–4.5 mm, apex acute; lip 7–12 mm, 2-partite; hypochile shallowly saccate, enclosed within the bases of the lateral sepals; hypochile lobes erect to spreading, obliquely triangular-ovate, apices obtuse; epichile broadly ovate to ovate-semiorbicular, 3–6 Χ 5–6 mm, bearing 3–5 irregularly papillate, brownish lamellae; column erect, 5–7 mm, bearing 2 small wings; anther ovate, 2–3 mm. Capsule cylindrical, 2–3 cm. Fl. May–Aug.

* Dry, open Pinus forest, alpine meadows; 2000–3000 m. N and C Taiwan.

9. Cephalanthera longifolia (Linnaeus) Fritsch, Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschr. 38: 81. 1888.

 头蕊兰  tou rui lan

Serapias helleborine Linnaeus subsp. longifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 950. 1753; Cephalanthera acuminata Wallich ex Lindley; C. ensifolia (Swartz) L. C. Richard var. acuminata (Lindley) T. Tang & F. T. Wang; C. mairei Schlechter; C. thomsonii H. G. Reichenbach.

Leafy autotrophic herb, 20–50 cm tall. Stem slender to somewhat robust, bearing 3–5 loosely clasping basal sheaths, 4–7-foliate. Leaves elliptic, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4–16 Χ 0.5–3 cm, apex acuminate to long acuminate. Inflorescence subdensely 2–20-flowered; rachis 1.5–6 cm; floral bracts linear-lanceolate to narrowly triangular, basal one or two usually foliaceous and up to ca. 70 mm, distal ones 2–6 mm. Flowers 1–1.5 cm, spreading weakly, white; pedicel and ovary 6–10 mm; sepals narrowly rhombic-elliptic or narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 11–16 Χ 3.5–4.5 mm, apex acuminate or subacute, 5-veined; petals subobovate, 7–8 Χ ca. 4 mm, apex acute or mucronate, 5–7-veined; lip 5–7 Χ 6–9 mm, 2-partite; hypochile saccate, enclosed within the bases of the lateral sepals, with a small orange patch in the middle of the disc; hypochile lobes erect and embracing the column, subovate-triangular, 3–4 mm, apices subacute; epichile triangular-cordate, 3–4 Χ 5–6 mm, apex obtuse to acute, bearing 3–5 orange lamellae, densely papillose towards apex; column 4–6 mm, bearing 2 small oblong wings; anther 2–2.5 mm; stigma stalked. Capsule elliptic, 1.7–2 Χ 0.6–0.8 cm in diam. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n=16, 32, 34, 34+2B, 42.

Forests and thickets, along streams, open grassland; 1000–3600 m. S Shanxi, S Shaanxi, S Gansu, W Henan, W Hubei, W Sichuan, NW Yunnan and S and SE Xizang [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim; N Africa, SW Asia and Europe].

 

 

CORYMBORKIS Thouars, Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris ser. 2, 1: 318. 1809.

 

管花兰属  guan hua lan shu

 

Corymbis Lindley; Hysteria Reinwardt; Rynchanthera Blume; Tomotris Rafinesque.

 

Terrestrial herbs. Rhizomes short. Roots slender, wiry. Stem 1 or several arising from same rhizome, unbranched, slender, reed-like. Leaves many, distichous, often large, ovate to elliptic, chartaceous, plicate, base contracted into amplexicaul sheaths. Inflorescence an axillary raceme or panicle, conspicuously shorter than leaves, few- to many-flowered; peduncle often enclosed in leaf sheaths. Flowers distichously arranged, usually greenish-white to yellow, scented, resupinate or not; pedicel short; sepals and petals subequal, rather long and narrow, spreading, connivent or connate at base; petals slightly wider than sepals; lip as long as petals or slightly shorter, embracing the column, with 2 longitudinal ridges; column slender, erect, slightly shorter than lip, apex dilated and with 2 auricles; anther inserted on dorsal side of the column, erect, suboblong or ovate-oblong; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, sectile; caudicle slender; viscidium subpeltate; stigma with 2 outcurved lobes; rostellum prominent, taller than anther, bifid. Capsule strongly 6-ridged, apex with persistent column.

 

7 species: pantropical; 1 species in China.

 

1. Corymborkis veratrifolia (Reinwardt) Blume, Coll. Orchid. 105. 1858.

 

 管花兰  guan hua lan

 

Hysteria veratrifolia Reinwardt, Syll. Pl. Nov. Ratisb. 2: 5. 1826; Corymbis veratrifolia (Reinwardt) Reichenbach f.; Corymborkis assamica Blume; Corymborkis sakisimensis Fukuyama.

 

Plant 80–100 cm tall. Stem erect, subterete, 8–12 mm in diam., with many leaves. Leaves narrowly elliptic or narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 25–38 Χ 5.5–10 cm, basal sheaths 5–9 cm, often brown-scurfy abaxially, apex long-acuminate. Inflorescence a panicle, 5–9 cm, 2–6–branched, with 10–30 or more flowers; [bracts at branch base lanceolate, 1–1.5 cm]; floral bracts ovate, 2–4 mm. Flowers white, not spreading widely, tubular or campanulate, 3.2–3.8 cm, fragrant; pedicel and ovary 4–6 mm; sepals similar, oblanceolate-linear or narrowly spathulate, 3.2–3.8 cm, ca. 2 mm wide at narrow base, apically 5–6 mm wide; petals similar to sepals; lip as long as the sepals, long-clawed, apically dilated; apical lobe orbicular or broadly ovate-elliptic, ca. 1 Χ 1 cm, margins undulate, apex acute and recurved, with 2 longitudinal ridges; column subcylindrical, shorter than the lip; rostellum bifid, ca. 3 mm. Fl. Jul.

 

In shade in dense forests; 700–1000 m. SW Guangxi, Taiwan, S Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia, SW Pacific Islands].

 

 

TROPIDIA Lindley, Bot. Reg. 19: sub t. 1618. 1833.

 

竹茎兰属  zhu jing lan shu

 

Cnemidia Lindley; Chloidia Lindley; Govindooia Wight; Schoenomorphus Thorel ex Gagnepain; Muluorchis J. J. Wood.

 

Terrestrial autotrophic (or rarely mycotrophic, but not in our area) herbs. Rhizomes thick, ascending. Roots wiry. Stem erect, rigid, branched or unbranched, noded, with or without sheaths at nodes. Leaves 2 to many, plicate, ovate to narrowly lanceolate, base contracted into amplexicaul sheath, chartaceous. Inflorescence a short raceme or panicle, terminal or arising from leaf axils near the apex of the stem, several- to many-flowered. Flowers resupinate or not; dorsal sepal free; lateral sepals free or connate and embracing the base of the lip; petals free, similar to the sepals or slightly smaller; lip slightly shorter than the sepals, entire, cymbiform, distally expanded, apex acuminate and reflexed, sometimes constricted at middle, base loosely embracing column, concave, saccate or short spurred at base; column short; anther erect, affixed dorsally, 2-locular; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, sectile, attached to a small, peltate viscidium via a slender, linear hamulus; rostellum prominent, erect, remnant bifid. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Oct.

 

About 20 species: mainly tropical and subtropical Asia, with a few species extending to Australia and the SW Pacific Islands, and one in Central and North America; 5 species in China.

 

1a.       Plant usually more than 10-foliate; leaves distichous; lateral sepals connate only at base  1. T. curculigoides

1b.       Plant 1- or 2-foliate; leaves apical and subopposite or cauline and alternate; lateral sepals connate for almost their entire length and forming a synsepal.

2a.       Lip spurred at base; spur up to 4 mm     2. T. angulosa

2b.       Lip concave or saccate at base.

3a.       Synsepal subtruncate at apex; column ca. 2 mm              5. T. emeishanica

3b.       Synsepal bilobed at apex; column 3–6 mm.

4a.       Inflorescence laxly 10–20-flowered; sheaths on stem less than 2 cm        3. T. somae

4b.       Inflorescence densely 5–10-flowered; sheaths on stem up to 4 cm          4. T. nipponica

 

1. Tropidia curculigoides Lindley, Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl. 497. 1840.

 

 短穗竹茎兰  duan sui zhu jing lan

 

Tropidia assamica Blume; T. formosana Rolfe; T. graminea Blume; T. hongkongensis Rolfe; T. squamata Blume.

 

Plant 30–80 cm tall. Rhizome short, rigid. Roots fleshy, 2–3 mm in diam. Stem unbranched or occasionally with branches, internodes 2–4 cm, usually more than 10-foliate; proximal nodes often naked, distal nodes enclosed in leaf sheaths. Leaves distichous, cauline, widely spaced, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, 10–27 Χ 1–5 cm, apex long-acuminate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, 1–2.5 cm, densely 3–10-flowered; peduncle bearing several imbricate sterile bracts; floral bracts lanceolate, 4–7(–10) mm, with conspicuous longitudinal veins. Flowers non-resupinate, greenish-white; pedicel and ovary 5–6 mm; sepals lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 7–10 Χ 1.5–1.7 mm, apex long-acuminate; lateral sepals connate only at base, apices recurved; petals oblong-lanceolate, 6–8 Χ ca. 1.3 mm; lip ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, cymbiform, 6–8 mm, apex acuminate, base concave-saccate, disc with 2 inconspicuous lamellae; column ca. 3 mm; anther ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm; rostellum obovate, ca. 2 mm. Capsule ca. 20 Χ 5 mm in diam. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Oct. 2n=40, 60.

 

In shade in forests, along valleys; 200–1000 m. SW Guangxi, Hainan, Hongkong, Taiwan, SE Xizang, S and SE Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

 

2. Tropidia angulosa (Lindley) Blume, Coll. Orchid. 122. 1858.

 

 阔叶竹茎兰  kuo ye zhu jing lan

 

Cnemidia angulosa Lindley, Bot. Reg. 19: t. 1618. 1833; Govindooia nervosa Wight; Tropidia barbeyana Schlechter; T. calcarata Ames; T. bellii Blatter & McCann; T. govindovii Blume; T. semilibera (Lindley) Blume.

 

Plant 16–45 cm tall. Rhizome short, rigid. Roots fleshy, 1.5–2.5 mm in diam. Stem solitary or 2 arising from the same rhizome, unbranched or sometimes 1-branched, internodes 3–6.5 cm, 2-foliate; proximal nodes naked or bearing tubular sheaths, distal nodes enclosed in tubular sheaths 1.5–3(–6.5) cm. Leaves apical, subopposite, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, (6–)10–17 Χ (3–)4.5–9.5 cm, apex long-acuminate. Inflorescence terminal, 5–8 cm; rachis 1.5–3 cm, sub-densely 10- to more than 20-flowered; floral bracts narrowly lanceolate, 6–8 mm, midvein conspicuous. Flowers non-resupinate, greenish-white; pedicel and ovary 6–9 mm; dorsal sepal linear-lanceolate, 8–9 Χ 1.5 mm, apex acuminate or acute; lateral sepals almost completely connate and forming a synsepal; synsepal suboblong, 8–10 Χ 2–2.5 mm, apex shallowly 2-lobed, embracing the lip and connected to the spur at its base; petals linear-lanceolate, 8–9 Χ 1.5 mm; lip suboblong, 6–7 Χ ca. 2 mm, base spurred, disc with 2 slightly thickened longitudinal ridges running from middle to base; spur cylindrical, ca. 4 Χ 1–1.5 mm in diam., apex obtuse; column ca. 6 mm; anther ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm; rostellum lanceolate, ca. 5 mm. Capsule oblong-ellipsoid, 1–1.5 cm, 6–7 mm in diam. Fl. Sep, fr. Dec–Jan. 2n=57.

 

Forests, forest margins; 100–1800 m. Guangxi, Taiwan, SE Xizang, SW and S Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

 

3. Tropidia somae Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 6: 85. 1916 [“somai”].

 

台湾竹茎兰  tai wan zhu jing lan

 

Plant usually less than 20 cm tall. Roots fibrous. Stem unbranched, 1- or 2-branched, bearing sheaths at nodes, 1- or 2-foliate; sheaths less than 2 cm. Leaves apical, subopposite, ovate to cordate, ca. 11 Χ 6.5 cm, apex acute, 7–13-veined. Inflorescence terminal, 4–8 cm, laxly 10–20-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 5–6 mm. Flowers non-resupinate, white; pedicel and ovary ca. 5 mm; dorsal sepal free, narrowly lanceolate, 9–10 Χ ca. 3 mm; lateral sepals almost completely connate and forming a synsepal; synsepal 10–11 mm, bilobed at apex; petals narrowly ovate, 8–9 Χ 3–3.5 mm, keeled abaxially; lip narrowly oblong, ca. 9 Χ 2 mm, base saccate, disc with 2 lamellae in basal half; column 5–6 mm; anther lanceolate, 3–3.3 mm, apex acuminate; rostellum lanceolate. Fl. Sep.

 

Forests; low elevations. N and S Taiwan [S Japan (Ryukyu Islands)].

 

4. Tropidia nipponica Masamune, Bot. Mag. Tokyo. 43: 249. 1929.

 

 竹茎兰  zhu jing lan

 

Tropidia angulosa (Lindley) Blume var. nipponica (Masamune) S. S. Ying.

 

Plant 20–60 cm tall. Rhizome ascending. Roots filiform, often with small tuber-like nodules. Stem often branched, slender, 3–4 mm in diam., proximal nodes enclosed in sheaths, 1- or 2-foliate; sheaths up to 4 cm. Leaves  cauline, alternate, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 10–16 Χ 4–8 cm, apex acute. Inflorescence terminal, ca. 6 cm, sparsely pubescent, densely 5–10-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 5–6 mm. Flowers non-resupinate, off-white; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, ca. 7 Χ 3 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals almost completely connate and forming a synsepal; synsepal oblanceolate, 7–8 mm, apex 2-lobed; petals elliptic, ca. 6 Χ 3 mm, apex acute; lip ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 mm, apex reflexed, base saccate, disc thickened apically, pale yellow; column ca. 3 mm; anther ovate, ca. 2.5 mm; rostellum triangular. Fl. Jul.

 

Forests; low to mid elevations. N and S Taiwan [S Japan (Ryukyu Islands)].

 

5. Tropidia emeishanica K. Y. Lang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 20: 184. 1982.

 

 峨眉竹茎兰  e mei zhu jing lan

 

Plant up to 22 cm tall. Rhizome somewhat thickened. Roots often with small tuber-like nodules. Stem unbranched, nodes bearing tubular sheaths, 2-foliate; internodes 2–3 cm. Leaves cauline, widely spaced, alternate, ovate or elliptic, 7–10 Χ 3–4 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescence terminal, ca. 5 cm, 13-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm. Flowers small, non-resupinate, green; pedicel and ovary ca. 12 mm; dorsal sepal oblong, concave, ca. 5.5 Χ 1.8 mm, apex obtuse, 3-veined; lateral sepals almost completely connate and forming a synsepal; synsepal obovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 Χ 2.3 mm, apex subtruncate; petals elliptic, concave, ca. 5 Χ 1.6 mm, apex obtuse; lip obovate, ca. 3 Χ 2 mm, disc with 1 thick longitudinal ridge, spurless; column ca. 2 mm; anther cordate. Fl. Jul.

 

* Forests; 1100–1200 m. SW Sichuan.