香荚兰亚科 xiang jia lan ya ke
香荚兰属 xiang jia lan shu
Climbing herbaceous vines, to several metres long. Stem bearing an aerial root and a leaf at each node. Leaves large, fleshy, shortly petioled, sometimes reduced to scales (but not in Chinese species). Raceme axillary, with several to many flowers; flowers often large, resupinate, often with an abscission layer between ovary and perianth; sepals and petals similar, free, spreading; labellum often joined to the sides of the column with its basal margins, sometimes almost to the top of the column and more or less trumpet-shaped, free part often dilated, sometimes 3-lobed; disc often with hairy appendages adaxially, spurless; column long, slender, slightly curved near top; anther inserted pointing downward; pollinia 2 or 4, granular-farinaceous or loose-granular, without caudicle or viscidium; rostellum often broad, below anther. Fruits cylindrical, fleshy, often indehiscent. Seeds with thick testa, often black, wingless.
About 70 species: throughout the tropics; three, possibly four, species in China.
1a. Inflorescence very short, usually with 2 flowers .................................................... 2. V. somae
1b. Inflorescence (4–) 7–30 cm long, with many flowers.
2a. Sepals and petals 3.8–4.5 cm long, yellowish-greenish .................................. 1. V. siamensis
2b. Sepals and petals 1.4–2.0 cm long, white tinged with greenish ...................... 3. V. annamica
大香荚兰da xiang jia lan
Stem to several metres long, with long internodes, bearing a root and a leaf at each node. Leaves loosely arranged, fleshy; leaf blade elliptic, 14–25 × 6–8 (–13) cm, apex acuminate, base slightly contracted, glabrous; petiole robust, broad, 1.5–2.5 cm long. Raceme axillary, 7–14 cm long, with many flowers; floral bracts fleshy, broadly ovate, 7–8 mm long; pedicel and ovary ca. 2 cm long; flowers opening ephemerally; sepals and petals yellowish-greenish, oblong or narrowly ovate, 3.8–4.5 × 1.2 cm, apex rounded and slightly involute; petals obvate-oblong, thin-textured, 4 × 1–1.3 cm; labellum rhombic-obovate, ca. 4 cm long, basal half adnate to both sides of the column, more or less trumpet-shaped, indistinctly trilobed; lateral lobes embracing column; mid-lobe undulate-margined, with fimbriate papillae near apex; disc with a cup-shaped, short-hairy appendage centrally; column 2–2.6 cm long, villose on central surface. Fl. Aug. 2n=32.
Forests; 800–1200 m. S Yunnan [Thailand].
台湾香荚兰 tai wan xiang jia lan
Vanilla albida H. J. Su (2000), non Blume (1823); Vanilla griffithii Hayata (1911); non Reichenbach f.(1854); Vanilla griffithii Reichenbach f. var. formosana Ito; Vanilla ronoensis Hayata; Vanilla griffithii Reichenbach f. var. ronoensis (Hayata) S. S. Ying.
Stem climbing, to 3 m long, with internodes 7–10 cm long. Leaves alternate; leaf blade narrowly ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, 10–20 × 4–8 cm, thick-fleshy, slightly reticulate-veined, apex acuminate, base obtuse and with a very short petiole. Inflorescence axillary, very short, usually with 2 flowers; floral bracts subtriangular, 1–1.5 cm long; pedicel and ovary 4–5 cm long; flowers 5–6 cm across, whitish or tinged with greenish, labellum adaxially red-striped, abaxially tinged with pink; sepals similar, elliptic-oblanceolate or oblanceolate, 3.5–4 × 0.8–1 cm, spreading, apex recurved; petals similar to sepals; labellum 3.5–4 cm long, connate basally for 3/5 the length to both sides of the column forming a trumpet-shaped tube, apex dilated and slightly 3-lobed, margins undulate; lateral lobes rather large, incurved; mid-lobe subtriangular or orbicular, adaxial surface with 2 or 3 rows of papillae near apex; disc with a white brush-like appendage centrally; column 2.5–3 cm long, apex with 2 small wings; anther 3mm long, fleshy. Fruits subcylindrical, with inconspicuous 3 longitudinal ridges, 7–10 cm long. Fl. & fr. Apr–Aug. 2n=32.
* Forests; below 1200 m. S to N Taiwan.
南方香荚兰 nan fang xiang jia lan
Stem climbing, 6–20 m long, ca. 1 cm in diam., swollen-noded, with internodes 6–10 cm long. Leaf blade elliptic, 18–23 × 5–10 cm; petiole 1–1.5 cm long, base amplexicaul. Inflorescence 10–20 cm long; floral bracts thickened, broadly elliptic or elliptic, concave, 7–12 mm long, apex obtuse; flowers white tinged with greenish; sepals and petals lanceolate, 14–20 × 4–6 mm; labellum 2–2.5 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm wide, connate basally for 3/4 the length to both sides of the column forming a tube, apex inconspicuously 3-lobed; lateral lobes broad, incised-margined; mid-lobe densely with fimbriate hairs near apex; disc with scaly appendages; column ca. 2 cm long. Fl. Apr–May.
Cliffs or forests; 1200–1300 m. Fujian, Hong Kong, SW Guizhou, SE Yunnan [Thailand].
It seems still a question of the identification of the Chinese specimens. Of the Chinese specimens only the one from Hong Kong has flowered, but the sterile plants are very similar in habit to V. annamica.
宝岛香荚兰 bao dao xiang jia lan
Stem scandent, elongate, with long internodes, bearing a leaf at each node. Leaves alternate; leaf blade narrowly ovate-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 10–15 × 5–7 cm, apex acute or acuminate; petiole 1–1.5 cm long, +/- amplexicaul. Inflorescence terminal, racemose, 15–30 cm long, many-flowered; floral bracts ovate, reddish or brownish, 5–6 mm long; pedicel and ovary 1–1.8 cm long, glabrous; flowers glabrous, reddish or brownish; sepals oblanceolate, 25–30 × 6–8 mm, apex obtuse, base contracted; petals linear, 25–28 × 3–4 mm, apex obtuse; labellum narrow-elliptic or elliptic, 3-lobed, indistinctly serrate-margined, adaxially villose at center; disc with 2 thickened ridges; column 2–2.5 cm long. Fl. unknown.
* Thickets; 800–1600 m. C Taiwan.
No specimen of this species has been seen. According to the original description and the colored photograph provided by the author (Coloured Illustr. Indig. Orchids Taiwan 2: photo: 109. 1990), this taxon seems to be a member of Galeola rather than Vanilla. [This seems to me to be a Galeola, although its leaves are worrying]
肉果兰属 rou guo lan shu
Saprophytic herbs. Rhizomes thick, with fleshy or sometimes tuber-like roots. Stems erect, often several arising from one rhizome, simple or branched, fleshy, yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, with scale at nodes. Raceme or panicle terminal or lateral, with several or many flowers; rachis short-hairy or mealy-hairy; floral bracts persistent; flowers medium-sized, not fully opening; sepals and petals connivent; sepals often more or less hairy on abaxial surface; petals glabrous; labellum erect, unlobed, spurless, base connate to column, more or less embracing column; column stout, slightly curved, upper part enlarged, without a foot; anther terminal, incumbent, 2-locular; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, without caudicle or viscidium. Fruits fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds with thick testa, wingless or with a narrow surrounding wing.
5 species: tropical Asia to eastern Asia; 3 species in China.
1a. Plants rather large, 30–170 cm tall; lateral racemes 3–7(–10) cm long; tuber-like roots absent 3. C. septentrionalis
1b. Plants relatively small, 8–22 cm tall; lateral racemes very short or absent; tuber-like roots conspicuous, 5–12 mm in diam.
2a. Inflorescence terminal; labellum glabrous ....................................................... 1. C. javanica
2b. Inflorescences terminal and lateral, the latter at least represented by a short raceme; labellum with white hairs near adaxial apex ........................................................................................ 2. C. nana
肉果兰rou guo lan
Galeola javanica (Blume) Bentham & Hooker f.
Small herbs, ca. 10 cm tall. Tuber-like roots cylindrical or clavate, fleshy, thick and fat, 5–8 cm long, 8–12 mm in diam., tufted. Stem 1–3 arising from one rhizome, erect, 6–8 cm tall, with imbricate scales at nodes; scales alternate, elliptic-ovate, cymbiform or with semispherical base, glabrous, yellowish-brownish, turning dark brown with age; inflorescence racemose, with 5–8 flowers; floral bracts small, subtriangular; pedicel and ovary 1–1.5 cm long, mealy-pubescent; flowers fleshy, yellowish-brownish, not fully opening; sepals mealy-pubescent abaxially; dorsal sepal oblong, 16 × 8 mm, slightly concave; lateral sepals broadly ovate, 16 × 9 mm; petals oblong, 15 × 7 mm, thin-textured; labellum adnate to the base of column, semiorbicular, yellowish at base, whitish near apex, with thickened disc and spongy limb; column clavate, ca. 8 mm long, winged at apex; wing erose-dentate at apex. Fruit sausage-shaped, 5 cm long, indehiscent. Fl. May–Jun.
Bamboo forests. C Taiwan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].
矮小肉果兰 ai xiao rou guo lan
Galeola nana Rolfe ex Downie, Kew Bull. : 409. 1925.
Small herbs, more or less fleshy. Rhizome short, thick. Tuber-like roots cylindrical, pale yellowish-white, fleshy, 2.5–9 cm long, 5–8 mm in diam. Stem erect, 10–22 cm tall, yellowish-white, slightly tinged with red, glabrous or apical half sparsely with rust-colored, mealy, short hairs, nodes with lanceolate scales; internodes usually 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence terminal and lateral, sometimes lateral inflorescence very short or inconspicuous; terminal raceme with 6–11 flowers; rachis rusty-mealy-puberulous; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 2–4 mm long, abaxial surface rusty-puberulous; pedicel and ovary 8–10 mm long, also with rust-colored hairs; flowers pale yellow, labellum with orange-red longitudinal stripes; sepals elliptic, 1–1.2 × 0.6 cm, apex acute, abaxial surface rusty-mealy-puberulous; petals similar to sepals, slightly narrower, glabrous; labellum broadly ovate, ca. 1 × 1.2 cm, more or less embracing column, margins somewhat undulate; disc with a thick longitudinal ridge centrally, adaxially white-pilose near apex; column ca. 6 mm long, apex slightly dilated, without conspicuous wing. Fl. Apr–Jun. 2n=28.
Forests or shady places along valleys, 500–1400 m. S Guangxi, SW Guizhou [Thailand].
血红肉果兰 xue hong rou guo lan
Galeola septentrionalis Reichenbach f., Xenia Orch. 2: 78. 1865.
Rather large plants. Rhizome stout, nearly creeping, 1–2 cm in diam., sparsely with ovate scales. Stem erect, red-brown, 30–170 cm long, apical half shortly rusty-tomentose. Inflorescence terminal and lateral; lateral raceme 3–7 (–10) cm long, with 4–9 flowers, base with a few ovate-lanceolate sterile bracts 1.5–2.5 cm long; floral bracts ovate, 2–3 mm long, abaxially with rusty hairs; pedicel and ovary 1.5–2 cm long, shortly rusty-tomentose; flowers yellow, more or less tinged with red-brown; sepals elliptic-ovate, 2 cm long, abaxially shortly rusty-tomentose; petals similar to sepals, slightly narrower, glabrous; labellum nearly broad-ovate, shorter than sepals, irregularly dentate- or erose-margined, adaxially hairy-papillose or occasionally crested-lamellate along mein veins; column ca. 7 mm long. Fruit fleshy, blood-red, suboblong, 7–13 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam. Seeds with surrounding wing; wing less than 1 mm wide. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Sep. 2n=28.
Forests; 1000–1300 m. SW Anhui, W Henan, Hunan, Zhejing [Japan (Ryukyu Islands)].
山珊瑚属 shan shan hu shu
Saprophytic erect herbs or scrambling vines, often with rather thick, tuberous rhizomes. Stem often stout, slightly fleshy, yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, with scales at nodes. Raceme or panicle terminal and lateral, with many slightly fleshy flowers; rachis pubescent; floral bracts persistent; flowers medium-sized, usually yellow or tinged with reddish-brown; sepals free, abaxial surface often hairy; petals glabrous, slightly smaller than sepals; labellum unlobed, usually concave, cup-shaped or saccate, more or less embracing column, conspicuously larger than sepals, spurless, with longitudinal ridge or callus adaxially; column often thick and short, dilated at apex, curved, without column-foot; subterminal; pollinia 2, cleft, granular-farinaceous, without caudicle or viscidium; stigma large, deeply concave; rostellum short and wide, above stigma. Fruit a dry capsule, rather long, dehiscent. Seeds with thick testa, with broad surrounding wing.
About 10 species: mainly tropical Asia, extending to S China, Japan, New Guinea and Madagascar; 4 species in China.
1a. Plant a climbing vine; stem with 1 aerial root at each node ................................ 4. G. nudifolia
1b. Plant erect, not climbing; lacking aerial roots at nodes.
2a. Floral bracts glabrous on abaxial surface; labellum scatteredly with lamellate appendages 2. G. faberi
2b. Floral bracts conspicuously hairy on abaxial surface; labellum without lamellate appendages.
3a. Labellum not contracted at base, never saccate; floral bracts 5–6 (–10) mm long 1. G. lindleyana
3b. Labellum narrowed near the saccate base; floral bracts (1–) 1.2–1.5 cm long 3. G. falconeri
毛萼山珊瑚 mao e shan shan hu
Cyrtosia lindleyana Hooker f. & Thomson in Hooker f., Illustr. Himal. Pl. t. 22. 1855; Erythrorchis lindleyana (Hooker f. & Thomson) Reichenbach f.; Galeola kwangsiensis Handel-Mazzetti; Galeola lindleyana var. unicolor Handel-Mazzetti; Galeola matsudai Hayata.
Tall herbs. Rhizome thick, 2–3 cm in diam., sparsely with ovate scales at nodes. Stem erect, reddish-brown, base more or less ligneous, 1–3 m tall, more or less hairy or glabrous with age, nodes with broadly ovate scales. Panicle composed of terminal and lateral racemes; lateral raceme 2–5 (–10) cm long, with several to 10 flowers, usually with very short peduncle; stetile bracts at base of raceme ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, nearly glabrous; floral bracts ovate, 5–6 mm long, abaxial surface rusty-pubescent; pedicel and ovary 1.5–2 cm long, often more or less curved, densely rusty-pubescent; flowers yellow, ca. 3.5 cm across; sepals elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 1.6–2 × 0.9–1.1 cm, abaxial surface densely short-rusty-tomentose and carinate; lateral sepals often slightly longer than dorsal sepal; petals broadly ovate to suborbicular, slightly shorter than dorsal sepal, 12–14 mm wide, glabrous; labellum concave, cup-shaped, nearly semi-globose, unlobed, ca. 1.3 cm in diam., margins shortly fimbriate, adaxial surface papillate-hairy, near base with 1 smooth callus; column clavate, ca. 7 mm long; operculum papillate-spinescent. Fruit suboblong, pale brown, 8–12 (–20) cm long, 1.7–2.4 cm in diam.; fruiting pedicle 1–1.5 cm long. Seeds with broad wing, wings 1–1.3 mm wide. Fl. May–Aug, fr. Sep–Oct.
Sparse forests, sparse thickets, humus-rich, moist, rocky places along valleys; 700–3000 m. Anhui, W Guangdong, N Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Xizang, W to SE Yunnan [India, Sikkim].
山珊瑚 shan shan hu
Galeola shweliensis W. W. Smith.
Herbs 1–2 m tall. Rhizome stout, nearly creeping, to 2 cm in diam., nodes sparsely with broadly ovate scales. Stem erect, reddish-brown, base more or less ligneous, upper part sparsely short-rusty-tomentose. Panicle composed of terminal and lateral racemes; lateral raceme 5–10 cm long, usually with 4–7 flowers; peduncle often 2–4 cm long; stetile bracts at base of raceme lanceolate, 1–2 cm long, glabrous; floral bracts lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 1–4 mm long, abaxial surface glabrous; pedicel and ovary often 1–2 cm long, more or less rusty-pubescent; flowers yellow, ca. 3.5 cm across; sepals narrowly elliptic or suboblong, 2.8–3 × 0.6–0.8 cm, apex obtuse, abaxial surface slightly and very shortly rusty-tomentose; petals similar to sepals, glabrous; labellum obovate, unlobed, ca. 2 × 1.2 cm, basal part concave, margins incurved and irregularly incised and more or less undulate, adaxial surface with many thick longitudinal veins; veins irregularly lamellate or crenate, mostly on distal part; column 8–10 mm long. Fl. May–Jul.
* Humus-rich and humid places in open forests or bamboo forests; 1800–2300 m. C Guizhou, SW Sichuan, NW to SE Yunnan.
直立山珊瑚 zhi li shan shan hu
Galeola kuhlii T. S. Liu & H. J. Su (1978), non (Reichenbach f.) Reichenbach f. (1865); Galeola matsudai T. P. Lin (1987), non Hayata (1920).
Plants 1–3 m tall. Rhizome 3–5 cm in diam., branched, nodes with many triangular scales. Stem erect, brownish, lower part almost glabrous, upper part sparsely and shortly rusty-hairy. Panicle composed of terminal and lateral racemes; raceme (5–) 10–20 cm long; peduncle and rachis more or less shortly tomentose; floral bracts ovate to narrowly elliptic, 1–2 cm long, often vertical to rachis, abaxial surface shortly rusty-tomentose; pedicel and ovary 2–2.8 cm long, densely rusty-tomentose; flowers bright yellow; sepals elliptic-oblong, 2.2–3 × 1–1.5 cm, abaxial surface shortly rusty-tomentose; petals slightly narrower than sepals, glabrous; labellum broadly ovate or orbicular, 2 × 1.6–1.8 cm, unlobed, concave, basal part more or less embracing column, near base narrowed and forming a small sac, margins fimbriate and undulate toothed, adaxial surface densely papillate-hairy especially near margins; column 7–8 mm long. Fruit a capsule, more than 10 cm long. Fl. Jun–Jul. 2n=30.
Open places in forests, bamboo forests, sunny slopes; 800–2300 m. Anhui, S Hunan, Taiwan [India, Sikkim].
The plants of Anhui, Hunan and Taiwan are similar to each other, but show some differences from the Himalayan plants, in which the labellum is slightly trilobed and petals denticulate along margins. We follow H. J. Su in treating this entity as G. falconeri Hooker f. here, but a further investigation is needed.
蔓生山珊瑚 wan sheng shan shan hu
Craniches nudifolia (Loureiro) Persoon; Erythrorchis kuhlii Reichenbach f.; G. hydra Reichenbach f.; Galeola kuhlii (Reichenbach f.) Reichenbach f.
Climbing plants. Rhizomes nearly creeping, ca. 1 cm in diam., sparsely with many broadly ovate fleshy scales. Stem 1–3 m long, branched, lower part almost glabrous, upper part slightly pubescent, often with 1 aerial root at each node. Inflorescence large, branched, composed of many racemes and panicles; lateral racemes or panicles 5–16 cm long; rachis more or less rusty-pubescent, bearing flowers in succession near apex; basal sterile bracts ovate, amplexicaul, 1–2 cm long, glabrous; floral bracts ovate, 2.5–4 mm long, abaxial surface hairy; pedicel and ovary 1–1.2 cm long, with short hairs; flowers yellow, more or less with orange-red veins adaxially; sepals subelliptic, 1.2–1.4 × 0.6–0.8 cm, lateral sepals obviously wider than dorsal sepal, abaxial surface more or less hairy when young; petals similar to dorsal sepal, glabrous; labellum suborbicular, strongly concave, slightly shortert than sepals, short-hairy adaxially, near base with 1 callus; column ca. 5 mm long, strongly curved. Fl. Apr–Jun.
Forests or shady slopes along valleys, 400–500 m. S Hainan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].
倒吊兰属 dao diao lan shu
Climbing or scrambling saprophytic vine. Stem climbing, cylindrical, flexuous, much-branched, glabrous, reddish-brown or yellowish-brown, with a root and a scale at each node. Raceme or panicle terminal or lateral, densely with many flowers; rachis and flower glabrous; floral bracts persistent; flowers thin, not fully opening; sepals and petals often connivent; labellum nearly unlobed, broad, central part with 1 fat and thick longitudinal ridge, its both sides with many transversely parallel ridges composed of small papillae; column slightly curved, with a short foot, tapering into the central longitudinal ridge of labellum; anther subterminal; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, without caudicle or viscidium; stigma large, concave; rostellum small. Fruit a capsule, oblong-cylindrical, dry, dehiscent. Seeds with thick testa and broad surrounding wing.
3 species: mainly Southeast Asia, north to Ryukyu Islands, southeast to New Guinea and Pacific Islands; 1 species in China.
倒吊兰 dao diao lan
Cyrtosia altissima Blume, Bijdr. 396. 1825; Erythrorchis ochobiensis (Hayata) Garay; Galeola altissima (Blume) Reichenbach f.; Galeola ochobiensis Hayata; Haematorchis altissima (Blume) Blume.
Climbing plants, to several meters long. Stem cylindrical, slender, with many branches, curved or twisted, reddish-brown or greenish-brown, nodes more or less dilated, with scales. Inflorescence large, much-branched, branch 5–15 cm long or longer, sometimes lateral racemes branched again; rachis rather slender, glabrous; floral bracts subtriangular, 2–3 mm long, glabrous, persistent; pedicel and ovary ca. 8 mm long, glabrous; flowers whitish-yellow or pale yellow, slightly spotted with brown, not widely opening; sepals suboblong, 1.2–1.5 × 0.3–0.5 cm, glabrous; petals oblong, slightly shorter and narrower than sepals; labellum slightly tinged with brown, subobovate, concave, ca. 1 cm long, apex slightly 3-lobed, centrally with 1 longitudinal ridge ca. 5 mm long extending from base to middle; longitudinal ridge slightly divergent at apex, and then with a woolly callus near its apex, along both sides of the ridge with many transversely papillary stripes vertical to longitudinal ridge; column 6–7 mm long. Fruit elongate cylindrical, 13–22 cm long, 5–10 mm in diam., reddish, surface smooth. Seeds with surrounding wing less than 1 mm wide, wing cleft on one side. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Aug.
Bamboo forests or evergreen broad-leaved forests; below 500 m. S Hainan, N to S Taiwan [Cambodia, NE India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].
盂兰属 yu lan shu
Saprophytic herbs; rhizomes cylindrical, slender, slightly rigid or subfleshy, creeping or ascending, branched or simple. Stem slender, suberect, branched or simple, sparsely with scale-like sheaths. Raceme terminal, usually with several to 10 flowers; floral bracts small, membranous; flowers small or medium-sized, usually resupinate; with 1 small toothed cup (calyculus) between ovary and perianth, with abscission layer above calyculus near perianth base; sepals and petals free, similar; labellum base clawed, usually by the canaliculated claw connate to column-foot forming a tube, rarely free, upper part 3-lobed or unlobed; disc often hairy or papillose, spurless; column rather slender, slightly dilated toward apex, slightly clavate; anther subterminal, 2-locular; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, without caudicle or conspicuous viscidium rostellum short. Fruit a cylindrical capsule.
About 10 species: Southeast Asia to Pacific Islands, north to Japan and S China; 4 species in China.
1a. Labellum simple, ca. 1.5 mm wide, glabrous .................................................... 4. L. nigricans
1b. Labellum more or less 3-lobed, more than 3 mm wide, hairy adaxially.
2a. Raceme with 13–21 flowers; sepals 9–10 mm long ...................................... 1. L. multiflora
2b. Raceme with 3–9 flowers; sepals 11–25 mm long.
3a. Sepals 11–14 mm long; mid-lobe of labellum sparsely hairy adaxially ........... 2. L. japonica
3b. Sepals 18–25 mm long; mid-lobe of labellum densely hairy adaxially........... 3. L. thalassica
多花盂兰 duo hua yu lan
Plants 20–30 cm tall, with fleshy rhizomes underground; rhizomes branched, 3–4 mm in diam., with nodes, nodes with amplexicaul sheaths; sheaths membranous, margins toothed. Stem suberect, slender, noded, nodes with sheaths; sheaths ovate to broadly ovate, 4–6 mm long, membranous, base amplexicaul. Raceme terminal, 8–10 cm long, with 13–21 flowers; floral bracts ovate, membranous, 2–3 mm long; flowers 9–10 mm long; labellum trilobed; mid-lobe hairy adaxially; disc with 2 calli. Fruit immature, 1.7–2 cm long.
Forests in limestone areas; 600–700 m. S Yunnan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand].
盂兰 yu lan
Lecanorchis cerina Fukuyama; Lecanorchis cerina f. albida (T. P. Lin) S. S. Ying; Lecanorchis cerina var. albida T. P. Lin; Lecanorchis ohwii Masamune.
Plants 33 cm tall. Rhizome fleshy, 5–6 mm in diam. Stem slender, tinged with white, black when fruiting, with 4 sheaths below middle; sheaths membranous, tubular, amplexicaul, 5–7 mm long. Raceme terminal, 4–5 cm long, with 3–7 flowers; floral bracts ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm long; pedicel and ovary 1.4–2 cm long, slender; calyculus 0.8–1 mm tall, ca. 1 mm wide, 6-toothed; sepals oblanceolate, 12–13 × 2–2.5 mm, apex obtuse; petals similar to sepals; labellum base clawed, canaculate claw connate to column along margins forming a tube; tube 3.5–4 mm long; distal free part nearly obovate or obovate-lanceolate, 8–9 mm long, 3-lobed; lateral lobes semi-ovate; mid-lobe broadly elliptic or orbicular, ca. 3 × 4 mm, margins crisped and erose, adaxial surface densely barbate-villose; disc barbate-villose; columns 7–10 mm long, apex slightly dilated. Capsule erect, cylindrical, 2–4 cm long. Fl. May–Jul.
Forests; 800–1000 m. N Fujian, SW Hunan, N to S Taiwan [Japan].
灰绿盂兰 hui lu yu lan
Lecanorchis japonica Blume var. thalassica (T. P. Lin) S. S. Ying.
Plants to 50 cm tall. Rhizome ascending. Stem erect, reddish-brown, with black dots, unbranched, with several sheaths; sheaths 3–4 mm long, dark brown. Raceme terminal, 3–4 cm long, with 4–10 flowers; floral bracts ovate, 2 mm long, persistent; pedicel and ovary 2.5–3.3 cm; flowers not widely open, margins grayish-green and yellowish; calyculus very small, 1 mm tall, margins toothed; dorsal sepal oblanceolate, ca. 20 × 5 mm, apex obtuse; lateral sepals falcate-oblanceolate, ca. 20 × 3 mm; petals obovate-lanceolate to spatulate, ca. 20 × 6 mm, apex obtuse or rotunded; labellum obovate, ca. 1.6 cm long, cuneate toward base, distal part 3-lobed, basal half connate to column forming a tube; tube ca. 8 mm long, contracted near middle, swollen part ca. 3 mm wide; lateral lobes erect, semi-orbicular, abaxial surface purple, adaxial surface shortly villose; mid-lobe entire, suborbicular, ca. 5.5 mm long, apex emarginate, adaxial surface densely yellow-villose, abaxially with several purple bands; disc with yellow hairs extending to mid-lobe; column ca. 9 mm long, apex dilated. Fl. May.
* Broad-leaved forests; 1400–2000 m. C Taiwan.
全唇盂兰 quan chun yu lan
Lecanorchis purpurea Masamune; Lecanorchis oligotricha Fukuyama; Lecanorchis taiwaniana S. S. Ying.
Plants 12–40 cm tall. Rhizome ascending, ligneous, with short scales at nodes. Stem erect, often branched, slender, blackish, remotely with several sheaths. Raceme terminal, 3–5 cm long, with 5–8 flowers; floral bracts ovate-triangular, 2–4 mm long; pedicel and ovary slender, 1–2 cm long, purplish-brown; calyculus 0.8 mm tall, denticulate; flowers almost widely opening; sepals and petals brownish to nearly whitish, sometimes tinged with purple, concave; sepals narrowly oblanceolate, 1–1.6 × 0.2–0.3 cm, apex acute; lateral sepals somewhat oblique, falcate-lanceolate, 12–14 × 2.5 mm; petals oblanceolate-linear, similar to sepals in size; labellum whitish, tinged with purple, narrowly oblanceolate to obovate-spatulate, unlobed, nearly as long as sepals, adaxial surface more or less papillose-hairy; column slender, white, 6–10 mm long. Fl. Aug–Oct.
Damp places in forests; 600–1000 m. C, S to N Fujian, N Taiwan [Japan (Ryukyu Islands)].
朱兰属 zhu lan shu
Terrestrial herbs, often with ascending, short rhizomes and slender, slightly fleshy roots. Stem somewhat slender, erect, with 1 leaf usually above middle. Leaf elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, herbaceous to slightly fleshy, amplexicaul-sheathing at base, without nodes. Flowers medium-sized, usually single and terminal, rarely 2–3 and racemosely arranged; floral bract foliaceous, but conspicuously smaller than leaf, persistent; sepals free, similar; petals often slightly wider and shorter than sepals; labellum 3-lobed or nearly unlobed, spurless, distal part or mid-lobe often with fimbriate or barbate appendages adaxially; column slender, upper part slightly enlarged, without a foot; clinandrium erose-margined; anther terminal, with a short filament, incumbent; pollinia 2, granular-farinaceous, without caudicle or viscidium; stigma single; rostellum broad and short, protruding above stigma.
4 species: eastern Asia and North America; 3 species in China.
1a. Leaf elliptic, 1–3 (–4.5) cm long, at a distance of 1.5–2 cm from floral bract; floral bracts 1–1.5 cm long 3. P. yunnanensis
1b. Leaf oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3–6 cm long, at a distance of 3–8 cm from floral bract; floral bract more than 2 cm long.2a. Flowers purplish-red with a yellow disc and callus; perianth 1.3–2 cm long; flower not erect, opening widely .................................................................... 1. P. japonica
2b. Flowers white, sometimes slightly tinged with pink on lip; perianth 1.3–1.5 cm long; flower not erect, opening widely .................................................................................................. 2. P. minor
朱兰 zhu lan
Pogonia kungii T. Tang & F. T. Wang; Pogonia parvula Schlechter; Pogonia similis Blume.
Plants 10–20 (–25) cm tall. Rhizome straight, 1–2 cm long, with slender, slightly fleshy roots. Stem erect, slender, with 1 leaf at or above middle. Leaf slightly fleshy, usually suboblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3.5–6 (–9) × 0.8–1.4 (–1.7) cm, apex acute or obtuse, base contracted and amplexicaul. Floral bract foliaceous, narrowly oblong, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 (–4) × 0.3–0.5 (–0.7) cm; pedicel and ovary 1–1.5 (–1.8) cm long, conspicuously shorter than floral bract; flowers solitary and terminal, opening widely, spreading, often purplish-red or pale purplish-red; sepals narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, 15–22 × 2.5–3.5 mm, apex obtuse or acuminate; petals similar nearly equal in length to sepals, but conspicuously wider, 3.5–5 mm wide; labellum narrowly oblong, 1.4–2 cm long, slightly contracted toward base, 3-lobed above middle; lateral lobes irregularly incised or fimbriate on apical margin; mid-lobe ligulate or obovate, 6–13 mm long, with 2 or 3 rows of crested-fimbriate hairs, margins fimbriate-incised; disc with a callus of 2–3 longitudinal lamellae or ridges extending to mid-lobe, linking there to hairy rows; column slender, 7–10 mm long, apical part narrowly winged. Capsule oblong, 2–2.5 cm long, 5–6 mm in diam. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Jul–Oct. 2n=18, 20.
Grasslands on hilltop, forests along valleys, wet places in thickets, open wet places; 400-2000 m. Anhui, N Fujian, N Guangxi, Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Jiling, Nei Mongol, Shandong, Sichuan, NE Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
小朱兰 xiao zhu lan
Pogonia japonica Reichenbach f. var. minor Makino, Bot. Mag. Tokyo 12: 103. 1898.
Plants ca. 13–16 cm tall. Rhizome cylindrical, ascending, 2–7 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diam. Stem terete, above middle with 1 leaf, near base with 1 sheath, sheaths 7–12 mm long. Leaf slightly fleshy, usually oblong, 3–7 × 0.4–1.2 cm, apex acute or obtuse, base narrowed into tubular sheath. Floral bracts narrowly lanceolate, 2–3 × 0.3–0.4 cm; pedicel and ovary 1–2 cm long; flowers solitary and terminal, suberect, not opening widely, white with a pink-tipped labellum, not widely opening; sepals narrowly oblanceolate, 1.2–1.3 (–1.5) × 0.2–0.3 cm; petals similar to sepals, nearly as long as but slightly wider than petals; labellum oblanceolate, ca. 1.1 cm long, 3-lobed above middle; lateral lobes short; mid-lobe oblong, 5 × 2 mm, with 3 rows of fimbriate hairs adaxially, margins irregularly toothed or more or less ciliate; disc with 3 longitudinal ridges from base extending to mid-lobe, linking there to rows of hairs ; column white, slender. Capsule narrowly oblong-cylindrical, ca. 2 cm long. Fl. May–Jun. 2n=18.
Grasslands; 2200–2400 m. S Taiwan [Japan].
云南朱兰 yun nan zhu lan
Plants (2–) 5–9 (–12) cm tall. Rhizome short, with several slender roots. Stem erect, with 1 leaf above middle. Leaves slightly fleshy, subelliptic, 1–3 (–4.5) × (0.4–) 0.7–1.5 (–2) cm, apex acute, base contracted and amplexicaul. Floral bracts foliaceous, narrowly elliptic, narrowly ovate or narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 5–17 (–20) mm long; pedicel and ovary 5–8 cm (–15) mm long; flowers solitary and terminal, suberect, purple or pink with a darker tip to the labellum, not widely opening; sepals narrowly oblong, 1.4–1.7 × 0.3 cm, apex acute; petals narrowly obovate-oblong, nearly as long as sepals, 3.5–4 mm wide, apex obtuse; labellum narrowly suboblong, usually slightly shorter than sepals, 1.3–1.5 cm long, slightly contracted toward base, 3-lobed above middle; lateral lobes narrow and long, shoulder-shaped; mid-lobe sublinear, approximately 5–6 mm long, margins irregularly toothed, adaxial surface densely with crested fringes; disc with 2 longitudinal ridges extending from base to the base of mid-lobe, usually connivent with each other becoming thickened; column suberect or slightly curved, 6–8 mm long. Capsule erect, obovate-elliptic, 1–1.2 cm long, 3.5–6 mm in diam. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Oct.
• Alpine grasslands, bamboo thickets or Abies forests; 2300–3300 m. W to SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan.