Plants of Tribe Podochileae

Abstract

This chapter describes 59 species in 18 genera in tribe Podochileae distributed in China, including morphology, flowering period, habitat, conservation status, and distribution.

Podochileae include 27 genera distributed in tropical areas with species biodiversity in Southeast Asia (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are 18 genera in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to genera in Podochileae

1	Pollinia 4–6	2
–	Pollinia 8	4
2	Leaves laterally compressed, stem short	Oxystophyllum
–	Leaves flat, not as above	3
3	Pollinia 4	Podochilus
–	Pollinia 6	Appendicula
4	Inflorescences and often stems; leaves, and leaf sheaths ± covered with reddish brown hairs	Trichotosia
–	Inflorescences, stems, and leaves glabrous	5
5	Pollinia connected by a common stipe to viscidium	6
–	Pollinia often sessile, directly attached to viscidium, rarely each pollinium with a separate stipe	7
6	Column foot absent; mentum absent; anther beaked at apex	Thelasis
–	Column foot conspicuous; mentum present; anther obtuse at apex	Phreatia
7	Column without a conspicuous foot	8
–	Column with a conspicuous column foot	11
8	Stems 1-leaved; leaves terete or dorsiventrally flattened; lip mid-lobe swollen	Ceratostylis
–	Stems few to many leaved	9
9	Stems short, entirely enclosed by imbricate leaf sheaths; inflorescence a densely flowered raceme	Phreatia
–	Stems elongate, leafy throughout entire length	10
10	Inflorescence terminal or subterminal; lip densely stellate-hairy	Mycaranthes
–	Inflorescence axillary; lip not densely stellate-hairy	Cylindrolobus
11	Sepals connate into a cylindric or nearly urceolate tube	12
–	Sepals free	13
12	Inflorescence 4–10 cm long, with 10–40 flowers; pseudobulb not reticulate	Cryptochilus
–	Inflorescence very short, with 1 or 2 flowers; pseudobulb surface reticulate	Porpax
13	Pseudostem or stem with 1 distinct internode only	14
–	Stem usually with several internodes	16
14	Leaves convolute; pseudobulbs conic, 2-leaved; inflorescence many flowered	Eria
–	Leaves conduplicate; inflorescence 1–6-flowered	15
15	Sepals densely tomentose abaxially	Campanulorchis
–	Sepals glabrous abaxially	Conchidium
16	Leaves terete, fleshy; inflorescence 1-flowered; flower relatively large, outer surface of sepals woolly	Mycaranthes
–	Leaves dorsiventrally flattened, inflorescence with more than one flowers	17
17	Column with 2 erect, arm-like appendages at apex; stem not swollen to form a pseudobulb; leaf 1	Ceratostylis
–	Column without arm-like appendages at apex; stem often swollen to form a pseudobulb; leaves 2 to many in taxa lacking pseudobulb	18
18	Lip entire, articulate to column foot and mobile; inflorescence never bottle-brush-like; column foot at right angle to column	Callostylis
–	Lip 3-lobed or obscurely 3-lobed, if entire, then inflorescence bottle-brush-like	19
19	Floral bracts large, bright orange; inflorescence usually bearing 2 flowers	Dendrolirium
–	Floral bracts smaller, not bright orange	20
20	Pseudobulbs usually less than 1/4 as long as leaves, borne sequentially on a stout rhizome; leaves 2 or 3, apical or subapical on pseudobulb	Bryobium
–	Pseudobulbs usually 1/2 or more as long as leaves, clustered, not noticeably arranged along rhizome; leaves 2–6 along upper part of stem	Pinalia

Eria Lindl.

This genus comprises about 15 species mainly distributed in mainland Asia and the whole of the Malay Archipelago (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are eight species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Flowers stellate, white, fusty pubescent	Eria javanica
–	Flowers not stellate, flowers colorful	2
2	Lip entire	Eria vittata
–	Lip 3-lobed	3
3	Pseudobulbs ovate, less than 3 cm	4
–	Pseudobulbs narrowly cylindric, short or elongate	6
4	Pseudobulbs borne mostly 3–6 cm apart on a creeping rhizome; disk of lip with 3 undulate-curved median keels running to apex of mid-lobe, with additional reduced keels mostly within mid-lobe	Eria clausa
–	Pseudobulbs borne close together; disk of lip with 3 undulate lamellae extending to base of mid-lobe	5
5	Mid-lobe of lip purple, with 5 lamellae	Eria boniana
–	Mid-lobe of lip purple, with 7 lamellae	Eria scabrilinguis
6	Pseudobulbs 2–2.5 cm long, much shorter than leaves; lip distinctly clawed	Eria yanshanensis
–	Pseudobulbs 10–20 cm long, longer than or ca. as long as leaves. Lip not clawed	7
7	Inflorescences 2–6-flowered; flowers white; lip lateral lobes with strong purplish red streaks and a yellow center	Eria coronaria
–	Inflorescences 7–12-flowered; flower yellow; sepals densely red spotted abaxially; lip lateral lobes without purplish red streaks	Eria gagnepainii

Eria boniana (Gagnep.) Tang & F. T. Wang (Figs. 1 and 2)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Pseudobulbs clustered, ovoid, 2–4 mm long, 0.6–1.2 cm in diam., apex 1–3-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic, 5–20 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide; petiole 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence arising from inner side of leaves, 4–10 cm long, sparsely several-flowered. Flowers yellowish green; mid-lobe of lip purple. Dorsal sepal oblong, 8–11 mm long, 2–3 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, 7–10 mm long, 3–3.5 mm wide, base adnate to column foot and forming a mentum; mentum ca. 4 mm long. Petals fusiform-oblong, 6–10 mm long, 2.2–2.5 mm wide. Lip obovate, ca. 8 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes nearly oblong; mid-lobe broadly ovate, ca. 3 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide; disk with 3 high median lamellae extending from base to apex of mid-lobe, lip mid-lobe with 5 lobed lamella. Column ca. 3 mm long.

Fig. 1

Eria boniana. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 2

Eria boniana. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: August–October

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on rocks in forests; 7500–1600 m

Conservation status: DD

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Laos and Vietnam

Eria yanshanensis S. C. Chen (Figs. 3 and 4)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Pseudobulbs cylindric, 20–25 mm long, 2–3 mm in diam., apex 2-leaved. Leaf blade oblong-oblanceolate, 9.5–13.8 cm long, 0.8–1.8 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal, 15–19 cm long. Flowers glabrous. Dorsal sepal lanceolate-oblong, ca. 8 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals subovate, 6–7 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide, base adnate to column foot and forming a mentum. Petals slightly curved, narrowly oblong, ca. 6 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Lip obovate-cuneate, ca. 9 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, with a basal claw 4–4.5 mm long, distally 3-lobed; lateral lobes subovate; mid-lobe suborbicular, ca. 1.5 mm long, 3 mm wide, margin irregularly crenate; disk with a central, suborbicular lamella in basal half and 6 or 7 irregularly fimbriate lamellae above. Column ca. 1.5 mm long.

Fig. 3

Eria yanshanensis. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 4

Eria yanshanensis. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: August–October

Habitat: Trees in forests; ca. 1 100 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Yunnan Province

Eria clausa King & Pantl. (Figs. 5 and 6)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Rhizome creeping, slender. Pseudobulbs borne 1–6 cm apart on rhizome, ovoid, 1.5–3 mm long, 0.6–1 cm in diam., apex 1–3-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic, 5–15 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide; petiole 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence 1, subterminal, 8–10 cm long, sparsely 2–6-flowered; floral bracts ovate, 4 mm long, 3 mm wide. Flowers yellowish green, lip with purple lamellae. Dorsal sepal oblong, 8–10 mm long, 2–3 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, 7–10 mm long, 3–3.5 mm wide, base adnate to column foot and forming a mentum; mentum ca. 4 mm wide. Petals fusiform-oblong, 6–10 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide. Lip obovate in outline, ca. 7 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ± obliquely oblong; mid-lobe broadly ovate, ca. 3 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide; disk with 3 high median lamellae extending from base to apex of mid-lobe, undulate-curved distally, with additional shorter, sinuous outer lamellae mostly restricted to mid-lobe. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 5

Eria clausa. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 6

Eria clausa. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: March

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 000–1 700 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xizang Province; India

Eria coronaria (Lindl.) Rchb. f. (Figs. 7 and 8)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Rhizome creeping. Pseudobulbs, cylindric, 5–15 mm long, 0.3–0.6 cm long, apex 2-leaved. Leaf blade sessile, narrowly elliptic, 6–16 cm long, 1–4 cm wide. Inflorescence arising between leaves, 10–30 cm long, 2–6-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 5 mm long. Flowers white, with purple stripes on lip. Dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, ca. 17 mm long, 5 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, ca. 15 mm long, 5 mm wide. Petals oblong-lanceolate, ca. 17 mm long, 4.5 mm wide. Lip oblong in outline, 14–15 mm long, 11–12 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes divaricate, suborbicular; mid-lobe triangular, ca. 5 mm long, 4 mm wide; disk with 3 entire or undulate lamellae running from base to mid-lobe and with 2–4 additional crenate or undulate lamellae on mid-lobe. Column ca. 5 mm long.

Fig. 7

Eria coronaria. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 8

Eria coronaria. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: May–June

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 300–2 000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xizang Province; India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand

Eria gagnepainii A. D. Hawkes & A. H. Heller (Figs. 9 and 10)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Pseudobulbs cylindric, slender, 5–23 cm mm long, 0.5 cm wide, apex 2-leaved. Leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, 10–26 cm long, 3–6 cm long, sessile. Inflorescence 1, arising between leaves, 6–40 cm long, up to 12-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 6–11 mm long. Flowers white and turning cream colored and then yellow as they age. Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, 14–16 mm long, 3–5 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, 12–16 mm long, 5–8 mm wide; mentum ca. 5 mm long. Petals oblong-lanceolate, 12 mm long, 3 mm wide. Lip suborbicular in outline, ca. 9 mm long, 8 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes parallel to mid-lobe, suboblong; mid-lobe 2–3 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide, subtriangular; disk with 2 diverging keels and 1 keel on mid-lobe, or with 2 entire lamellate keels below middle and 5 undulate lamellate keels above middle and central 3 of latter extending to mid-lobe, confluent, and reduced to a few teeth. Column ca. 5 mm long.

Fig. 9

Eria gagnepainii. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 10

Eria gagnepainii. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: February–April

Habitat: Trees and rocks in forests; 900–1 600 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hainan, Hong Kong, Yunnan, and Xizang; Vietnam

Eria javanica (Sw.) Bl. (Figs. 11 and 12)

Description: Pseudobulbs cylindric, 6–7 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm in diam., 2-leaved near apex. Leaf blade obovate-lanceolate, 36–40 cm long, 5–6 cm wide, base attenuate, sessile. Inflorescences subterminal, 40–50 cm long, many flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 1.2–1.5 cm long. Flowers white, sepals rusty pubescent abaxially. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 15–20 mm long, ca. 4 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, 15–20 mm long, 4–5 mm wide; mentum ca. 5 mm long. Petals lanceolate, 15–20 mm long, ca. 4 mm wide, long acuminate. Lip ovate-lanceolate in outline, ca. 14 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes suberect, oblong, 6–7 mm long; mid-lobe oblong-lanceolate, 7–8 mm long, ca. 3 mm wide; disk with 3 or 5 lamellae extending to near apex of mid-lobe. Column ca. 5 mm long.

Fig. 11

Eria javanica. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 12

Eria javanica. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: August–October

Habitat: Trees and rocks in forests; 300–1 000 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Taiwan and Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Guinea

Eria scabrilinguis Lindl. (Eria corneri Rchb. f.) (Figs. 13 and 14)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Pseudobulbs clustered, ovate oblong, 2–5 mm long, 1.0–2.5 cm long, apex 2–3-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate, 15–45 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, peduncle 2.0–3.0 cm long. Inflorescence solitary, arising from lateral of distal leaves, 6–22 cm long, many flowered; floral bracts triangular, 1.0 mm long. Flowers white, tinged yellow, sepals and petals with white linear-shaped projection, mid-lobe of lip purple. Dorsal sepal ovate triangular, 10 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-triangular, 10 mm long, 5 mm wide; base adnate to column foot and forming a mentum. Petals linear-lanceolate, 10 mm long, 1.2 mm wide. Lip ovate, 10 mm long, 6 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subrounded; mid-lobe ovate-triangular, 3–3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide; disk with 3 undulate lamellae extending to base of mid-lobe, mid-lobe with 7 densely crested lamella. Column ca. 3 mm long.

Fig. 13

Eria scabrilinguis. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 14

Eria scabrilinguis. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: August–September

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 500–1 500 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Fujian, Taiwan, Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan; Japan and Vietnam

Eria vittata Lindl. (Figs. 15, 16, and 17)

Description: Plants epiphytic, glabrous. Rhizome slender, glabrous, with a funnel shaped sheath on each node. Pseudobulbs 2–2.5 cm apart from each other, slightly curved, cylindric, 6–7 cm mm long, 6–8 cm wide, apex 2-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic, 14–19 mm long, 2–4 cm wide. Inflorescence subterminal, usually pendulous, 14–18 cm long, many lowered; floral bracts persistent, lanceolate to subulate, 1–4 mm long. Flowers grayish green, with purplish brown stripes on sepals and petals. Dorsal sepal oblong, ca. 12 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely triangular oblong, falcate, ca. 10 mm long, 4 mm wide; mentum ca. 5 mm long. Petals lanceolate-oblong, ca. 12 mm long, 5 mm wide. Lip oblong in outline, ca. 12 mm long, 5 mm wide, base attenuate, with 5 undulate lamellae running nearly from base to apex. Column ca. 7 mm long.

Fig. 15

Eria vittata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 16

Eria vittata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 17

Eria vittata. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: November

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 1 500–1 900 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; India, Myanmar, and Thailand

Campanulorchis Brieger

Campanulorchis comprises about five species widespread in China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Guinea, Thailand, and Vietnam (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There is one species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Campanulorchis thao (Gagnep.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Eria thao Gugaop.) (Figs. 18 and 19)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome well developed, slightly dilated at joint. Pseudobulbs borne 1–3 cm apart from each other, ovoid, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., apex 1-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic, 5–10 cm long, 1.5–2 cm long, base attenuate into a petiole 1.5–2 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, ca. 2 cm long, 1-flowered, with dense, reddish brown, cottony hairs; floral bracts broadly triangular, ca. 1 mm long. Flowers yellow, lip yellowish red, tinged with purple. Sepals with dense, reddish brown, cottony hairs abaxially; dorsal sepal lanceolate-oblong, ca. 17 mm long, 6–8 mm wide; lateral sepals triangular-ovate, ca. 20 mm long, 6–9 mm wide. Petals elliptic, ca. 15 mm long, 5 mm wide. Lip obovate-rhombic in outline, nearly ca. 15 mm long, 10 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subtriangular-ovate, ca. 4 mm long, 3 mm wide; mid-lobe suboblong, ca. 10 mm long, 6 mm wide, margin conspicuously thickened; disk with 3 lamellae, central 1 inconspicuous, lateral 2 much higher. Column ca. 6 mm long, shortly winged.

Fig. 18

Campanulorchis thao. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 19

Campanulorchis thao. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: August–October

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 600–1 200 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hainan Province; Vietnam

Conchidium Griff.

This genus comprises about ten species distributed in Bhutan, North India, South Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam Thailand, and China (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are five species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Pseudobulbs borne 2–5 cm apart on rhizome	2
–	Pseudobulbs almost clustered along rhizome	3
2	Pseudobulbs narrowly ovoid, not surrounded by reticulate sheaths; leaves rather big, 2–5 cm long; lip 3-lobed	Conchidium rhomboidale
–	Pseudobulbs subglobose, surrounded by reticulate sheaths, leaves rather small, 0.7–1 cm long; lip entire	Conchidium pusillum
3	Pseudobulbs narrowly ovoid, 2-leaved; flowers white	Conchidium japonicum
–	Pseudobulbs depressed globose or subflabellate, 1–3-leaved; flowers yellowish green	4
4	Pseudobulbs covered by reticulate sheaths, compressed globose, 2–3-leaved; leaf blade 1.0–5.0 cm long; lip entire	Conchidium muscicola
–	Pseudobulbs without reticulate sheaths, subflabellate or subglobose, 1 leaved; leaves 0.8–1.0 cm long; lip slightly 3-lobed	Conchidium spirodelum

Conchidium japonicum (Maxim.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 20 and 21)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs contiguous, regularly arranged in a row on rhizome, narrowly ovoid, 10–15 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, apex 2-leaved. Leaves shortly petiolate, oblong, 4–10 cm long, 0.5–1.6 cm wide. Inflorescence subterminal, ca. 5 cm long, 1–4-flowered; floral bracts ovate, ca. 3 mm long. Flowers white. Dorsal sepal narrowly elliptic, ca. 8 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate, oblique, ca. 6 mm long, 5 mm wide. Petals elliptic-lanceolate, ca. 8 mm long, 2 mm wide. Lip subovate in outline, base narrowed into a claw, 3-lobed above middle; lateral lobes erect, deltoid; mid-lobe nearly square, ca. 3 mm long, 3 mm wide, apex subtruncate and slightly emarginate; disk with 3 lamellae from base, central lamella extending to apex and lateral 2 to base of mid-lobe. Column ca. 3 mm long.

Fig. 20

Flowers of Conchidium japonicum. (By Shihwen Chung)

Fig. 21

Plants of Conchidium japonicum. (By Shihwen Chung)

Flowering time: June

Habitat: Lithophytic on rocks or epiphytic on tree trunks in forests; 700–2500 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, and Guizhou Province; Japan

Conchidium muscicola (Lindl.) Rauschert (Fig. 22)

Description: Plants epiphytic, 3–4 cm tall, glabrous. Pseudobulbs congested, depressed globose, discoid, 6–10 mm in diam., covered by reticulate membranous sheaths, apex 2- or 3-leaved. Leaf blade oblanceolate, 10–50 cm long, 4–7 mm wide, apex apiculate; petiole 0.3 cm long, articulate. Inflorescence 1, arising from upper leaf axil of pseudobulbs, 2–6-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, ca. 5 mm long. Flowers yellowish green. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, ca. 4 mm long, 1 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-lanceolate, slightly falcate, ca. 4 mm long, 3 mm wide; mentum small or indistinct. Petals lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm long, 1 mm wide. Lip subelliptic, ca. 3 mm long, 1 mm wide, entire, acuminate, contracted on both sides near middle, crenulate on apical margin; disk with 2 basal calli, central part with 3 veins running to near apex and lateral ones slightly thickened at base. Column less than 1 mm long.

Fig. 22

Conchidium muscicola. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: July–August

Habitat: Trees or damp rocks in forests; 1 600–2 800 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka

Conchidium pusillum Griff. (Fig. 23)

Description: Plants epiphytic, 2–3 cm tall. Rhizome long creeping, slender, with grayish white membranous sheaths. Pseudobulbs usually growing in pairs, each pair 2–5 cm apart on rhizome, nearly subglobose, 3–6 mm in diam., covered by reticulate membranous sheaths. Leaves 2 or 3, obovate-lanceolate, 7–10 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, apex with an awn 1–1.5 mm long. Inflorescence 1–5 cm long, 1- or 2-flowered; floral bracts ovate, ca. 2 mm long. Flowers yellowish green, small. Dorsal sepal ovate, 6 mm long; lateral sepals triangular, slightly oblique, 6 mm long. Petals lanceolate, ca. 4 mm long, 1 mm wide. Lip lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, base contracted, entire, margin thinly ciliate or irregularly denticulate; disk with 2 stripes, running from base to near middle. Column ca. 1 mm long.

Fig. 23

Flowers of Conchidium pusillum. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: October–November

Habitat: Trees or damp rocks in forests; 600–1 500 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Fujian, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xizang; India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam

Conchidium rhomboidale (Tang & F. T. Wang) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 24 and 25)

Description: Lithophytic. Pseudobulbs borne 2–4 cm apart from each other, cylindrical, 10–15 mm long, 4–6 mm in diam., apex 2-leaved. Leaves shortly petiolate, narrowly elliptic, 2–6 cm long, 0.6–1.5 cm wide. Inflorescence subterminal, on outer side of leaves, ca. 2.5 cm long, 1-flowered, with 1 or 2 sheaths at base; floral bracts ovate, ca. 1 mm wide. Flowers cream-colored and lavender or red. Dorsal sepal elliptic, ca. 11 mm long, 4 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-lanceolate, oblique, ca. 18 mm long, 6–7 mm wide; mentum ca. 6 mm wide. Petals slightly curved, oblong-lanceolate, ca. 10 mm long, 3 mm wide. Lip subrhombic, 10–17 mm long, 7–10 mm wide, base narrowed into a claw, apical quarter 3-lobed; lateral lobes oblong, margins slightly obtusely toothed or entire; mid-lobe trapezoid, ca. 4 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, barbate on adaxial veins, margin irregularly dentate, subtruncate; disk with 2 lamellae extending from base to near base of mid-lobe. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 24

Plants of Conchidium rhomboidale. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 25

Plant of Conchidium rhomboidale. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: April–May

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 700–1 300 m

Conservation status: NT

Distribution: Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan Province

Conchidium spirodelum (Aver.) Ormerod (Porpax spirodela (Aver.) Schuit., Y. P. Ng & H. A. Pedersen) (Figs. 26 and 27)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Pseudobulbs congested, duckweed-like, subflabellate or subrounded, 4–10 mm long, terminal 1-leaved. Leaves ovate, 8–10 mm long, 4–5 mm wide. Inflorescence lateral, 5.0–5.5 mm long, 2-flowered; floral bracts ovate, 2 mm long, 2.2 mm wide. Flowers light green. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 6.5–7.0 mm long, 1.5–1.7 mm wide; lateral sepals triangular, oblique, 6.0–6.5 mm long, 2.7–3.0 mm wide. Petals lanceolate, 4–4.2 mm long, 1.–1.1 mm wide. Lip lanceolate, 4.0–4.2 mm long, 1.1–12 mm wide, slightly 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect; mid-lobe lanceolate, disk with 2 thick fleshy lamellae.

Fig. 26

Plants of Conchidium spirodelum. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 27

Flowers of Conchidium spirodelum. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: June–July

Habitat: Trees or rocks in limestone forests; ca. 900 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam

Mycaranthes Bl.

Mycaranthes comprises about 25 species distributed in South and Southeast Asia (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are two species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Plants lacking rhizome; pseudobulbs congested; leaves narrowly lanceolate; lip 3-lobed	Mycaranthes paniculata
–	Plants with distinct rhizome; pseudobulbs 2.0–5.0 cm apart from each other; leaves cylindric; lip entire	Mycaranthes pannea

Mycaranthes paniculata (Lindl.) Schuit., Y. P. Ng & H. A. Pedersen [Mycaranthes floribunda (D. Don) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood] (Figs. 28 and 29)

Description: Plants epiphytic, 20–60 cm tall. Stems nearly clustered, erect, terete, slightly swollen at base, cylindric, 15–50 cm long, 3–5 mm in diam. Leaves many, 10–20 cm long, 0.3–0.6 cm wide. Inflorescences 1 or 2, subterminal, 10–15 cm long, with dense grayish white cottony hairs; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long. Flowers yellowish green. Sepals densely grayish white cottony abaxially; dorsal sepal ovate-elliptic, ca. 3 mm long, 1 mm wide; lateral sepals ± obliquely triangular, ca. 3 mm long, 2.5 mm wide; mentum ca. 2 mm long. Petals oblong, ca. 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Lip subflabellate in outline, base shortly clawed, distally 3-lobed; lateral lobes subovate-triangular; mid-lobe ± reniform, ca. 1.5 mm long, 2.5 mm wide; disk with a white, somewhat umbel-shaped projection from base to near apex and 2 smaller projections on both basal sides; umbel-shaped projections ca. 1 mm long, globose proximally and ellipsoid-cuneate distally. Column 1 mm long.

Fig. 28

Plants and habitat of Mycaranthes paniculata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 29

Inflorescence of Mycaranthes paniculata. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: April–June

Habitat: Trees in forests; ca. 800 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia

Mycaranthes pannea (Lindl.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 30 and 31) (Strongyleria pannea (Lindl.) Schuit., Y. P. Ng & H. A. Pedersen)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Rhizome creeping, elongate, slender, noded. Stems borne 2–5 cm apart on rhizome, terete, 1–2 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam., with 3 or 4 leaves near apex. Leaves terete, slightly laterally compressed, 4–20 cm long, ca. 0.3 cm in diam., adaxially grooved and often with white hairs along margins of grooves. Inflorescence arising from between leaves, 3–5 cm long, 1–4-flowered; floral bracts ovate-triangular, ca. 6 mm long, 4 mm wide. Flowers vanilla-scented, pale yellowish green, lip dark purplish. Sepals densely hairy abaxially, sparsely hairy adaxially; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, ca. 6 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, ca. 6 mm long, 5 mm wide. Petals oblong, ca. 5 mm long, 2 mm wide, both surfaces sparsely white hairy. Lip subovate elliptic, ca. 7 mm long, 4 mm wide, apical part slightly fleshy, both surfaces white tomentose, margin entire, apex obtuse-rounded, base narrowed and with a linear callus, apex with 1 conspicuous elongate-elliptic callus. Column ca. 1.5 mm long.

Fig. 30

Plants of Mycaranthes pannea. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 31

Flowers of Mycaranthes pannea. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: April–May

Habitat: Trees in forests; 800–2 200 m

Conservation status: NT

Distribution: Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Xizang Province; India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia

Cylindrolobus Bl.

This genus comprises about 30 species distributed in Southwest China and Southeast Asia (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018; Van Canh et al. 2020; Ya et al. 2019). There are seven species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021; Ya et al. 2019).

Key to species

1	Stems slender, terete, not fleshy, 1–2 mm in diam.; lip ca. 3.5 mm long	Cylindrolobus tenuicaulis
–	Stems stout, clavate, fleshy, 2–6 mm in diam.; lip nearly 1 cm long	2
2	Floral bracts dark red and elliptic; mid-lobe papillate on margin	Cylindrolobus motuoensis
–	Floral bracts yellow, greenish yellow, or green; mid-lobe not papillate	3
3	Lip yellow	4
–	Lip lateral lobes with purple edges, mid-lobe with lighter purple edges and patch	5
4	Floral bracts yellowish green; flowers white, oblong-ovate; lip with three obscure keels	Cylindrolobus cristatus
–	Flowers yellow, yellowish green and obovate bracts; lip with three calli	Cylindrolobus glabriflorus
5	Floral bracts light yellow; pseudobulbs rather long, to 30.0 cm	Cylindrolobus clavicaulis
–	Pseudobulbs 5.0–10.0 cm long	Cylindrolobus marginatus

Cylindrolobus clavicaulis (Wall. ex Lindl.) Rauschert (Fig. 32)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Pseudobulbs clustered, erect, 30.0 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, 3–4 leaved. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 9–12 cm long, 1.8–2.2 cm wide. Inflorescence arising from axil of apical leaf, 1- or 2-flowered; floral bracts 2, alternate, ovate, 1.9 cm long, 1.0 cm wide, light yellow; lateral lobes of lip and mid-lobe with adaxially red edges, mid-lobe yellowish green. Flower white; dorsal sepal ovate lanceolate, 14.0 mm long, 7.0 mm wide, lateral sepals ovate triangular, 12.0 mm long, 9.0 mm wide, base slightly oblique. Petals lanceolate, 14.0 mm long, 6.0 mm wide. Lip 3-lobed; lateral lobes suberect, ovate, 9.0 mm long, 4.0 mm wide; mid-lobe oblong, 4.8 mm long, 5.8 mm wide, apex slightly recurved; disk with 2 lamellae, column 4.0 mm long.

Fig. 32

Cylindrolobus clavicaulis. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: October–November

Habitat: Trees in forests; ca. 1 500 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar and Thailand

Cylindrolobus cristatus (Rolfe) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 33)

Description: Plant epiphytic. Pseudobulbs terete, 9–11 cm long, 3–6 mm in diam. Leaves 3 or 4, subterminal, lanceolate, 6–8.5 cm long, 1–1.4 cm wide. Inflorescences subterminal, 2–flowered; rachis white tomentose; floral bracts yellowish green, oblong-ovate, recurved, 1.2–1.3 mm long, 0.8–0.9 cm wide. Flowers white; lip yellow, somewhat darker on disk and margins of lateral lobes. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 13–14 mm long, 6–7 mm wide; lateral sepals triangular-ovate, carinate, ca. 15 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, base oblique. Petals lanceolate, 11–13 mm long, ca. 6 mm wide. Lip 3-lobed, 8–9 mm wide; lateral lobes erect, oblong; mid-lobe obovate, apex slightly denticulate; disk hairy, with 3 obscure keels, lateral keels terminating in 2 truncate fleshy crests, in front of which are 2 concavities partitioned by a median hairy keel, and elevated plates covered with yellow hairs forming 3 crests at apex.

Fig. 33

Flowers of Cylindrolobus cristatus. (By Lin Li)

Flowering time: October

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 400–1 500 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Myanmar and Thailand

Cylindrolobus marginatus (Rolfe) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Fig. 34)

Description: Plants epiphytic, 10–20 cm tall. Pseudobulbs tufted, clavate, 5–10 cm mm long, 2–6 mm wide, above middle conspicuously dilated. Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate, 5–11 cm long, 1–2 cm wide. Inflorescences 1 or 2, subterminal, usually with 2 flowers on a short peduncle ca. 5 mm long. Flowers white; lip lateral lobes with purple edges, mid-lobe with lighter purple edges and patch, with dense white cottony hairs. Sepals with white cottony hairs abaxially; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, ca. 15 mm long, 5 mm wide, obtuse; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, nearly as long as dorsal sepal, ca. 6 mm wide. Petals oblong-lanceolate, ca. 12 mm long, 4 mm wide, obtuse, glabrous. Lip obovate in outline, nearly 1 cm long, 3-lobed; lateral lobes suberect, subovate, apex incurved and slightly covering mid-lobe; mid-lobe subrhombic-flabellate, ca. 5 mm long, 5 mm wide, 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 long.

Fig. 34

Plants of Cylindrolobus marginatus. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: February–March

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 000–2 000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Myanmar and Thailand

Cylindrolobus glabriflorus X. H. Jin & J. D. Ya (Figs. 35 and 36)

Description: Epiphytic herbs. Roots slender, pubescent, 0.8–1.0 mm in diam. Stems clustered, terete, 4-leaved 13–25 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam. Leaves lanceolate, 4.5–6.5 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide. Inflorescences axillary, arising from the apical of the stem, 1.3 cm long, 2-flowered; sterile bracts 1–2, smaller. Flowers yellow; peduncle and ovary 4–6 mm long. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, obtuse, 6 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-ovate, 5 mm long, 3.5 mm wide, base adnate to column foot form a subglobose and obtuse mentum. Petals oblong-ovate, slightly oblique, 5 mm long, 2 mm wide; labellum oblong in outline, 3-lobed, base hinged to the apex of the column foot, apex emarginate, 3.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; lateral lobes suberect, subovate, apex slightly introvert, disk with 2 reddish brown calli; mid-lobe sub-square, ca. 3.3 mm long, 2 mm wide, with a central papillate keel, reddish brown, ca. 0.5 mm high; apex emarginate. Column ca. 3.5 mm long; rostellum triangle, 0.2 mm long, a hook-like protrusion under the stigma.

Fig. 35

Plants of Cylindrolobus glabriflorus. (By Hong Jiang)

Fig. 36

Cylindrolobus glabriflorus. (By Jidong Ya)

Flowering time: April–May

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 000–2 000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Myanmar and Thailand

Cylindrolobus motuoensis X. H. Jin & J. D. Ya (Fig. 37)

Description: Epiphytic herb. Roots pubescent, 1.0–1.5 mm in diam. Stem terete, 3(2) leaved apically, 18–24 cm long, 3–6 mm in diam. Leaves ligulate-lanceolate 10–13 cm long, 1.5–2.0 cm wide. Inflorescences, pubescent, borne on near the apical of the stem, 2–3 cm long, 2-flowered; two sterile bracts, smaller, amplexicaul; floral bracts dark red, elliptic, sparsely tomentum, 7 mm long, 3 mm wide. Flowers white, sepals externally with brown tomentum, peduncle and ovary ca. 1.0–1.5 cm long, densely brown tomentum. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, acute, 5-veined, 11 mm long, 4 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, 9 mm long, 5 mm wide, base adnate to column foot form a subglobose and obtuse mentum. Petals lanceolate, slightly oblique, acute, 3-veined, 10 mm long, 3 mm wide; labellum ovate in outline, 3-lobed, base hinged to the apex of the column foot, apex obtuse and emarginate, curved, 6 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral lobes suberect, subovate, apex slightly introvert; mid-lobe ligulate, ca. 3 mm long, 3 mm wide, thickened and papillate on margin, apex emarginate; disk with 3 keels, central keel longitudinal thickened, with orange papilla, running from base to the tip of mid-lobe, lateral keels glabrous, running from base to middle of mid-lobe. Column ca. 4 mm long. Anther cap ovate, pollinia 8, yellowish white.

Fig. 37

Flowers of Cylindrolobus motuoensis. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: February–March

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 000–2 000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Myanmar and Thailand

Cylindrolobus tenuicaulis (S. C. Chen & Z. H. Tsi) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Fig. 38)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome often slightly flexuous. Stem more or less flexuous, terete, 1–2 mm in diam., usually with 3 or 4 leaves at apex. Leaves oblong or lanceolate-oblong, 4–5 cm long, 0.6–1 cm wide, apex acuminate; petiole 2–4 cm long, articulate. Inflorescence arising from axil of apical leaf or a lower node, 5–6 mm long, usually 2-flowered; floral bracts broadly elliptic, cuspidate-acuminate. Flowers 4–5 mm across, glabrous; pedicel and ovary ca. 3 mm long, glabrous. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate or suboblong, 3–3.5 mm long, ca. 1.2 mm wide, acute; lateral sepals broadly triangular-ovate, oblique, ca. 4 mm long, 2 mm wide, subacute. Petals subovate, slightly shorter than dorsal sepal, acute. Lip subovate in outline, ca. 3.5 m long, base subcuneate, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ca. 1.5 mm long, ovate; mid-lobe subquadrate, ca. 1 mm long, 1 mm wide, with a central suborbicular lamella ca. 0.5 mm high; disk with 2 suborbicular lamellae. Column slightly arcuate, apex slightly enlarged; foot ca. 1.5 mm long.

Fig. 38

Cylindrolobus tenuicaulis. (By Xiaoahua Jin)

Flowering time: April

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1 000–2 000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Myanmar and Thailand

Dendrolirium Bl.

This genus comprises about 12 species distributed in Eastern Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and China (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are four species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Inflorescence light brown cottony-hairy; flower light yellowish brown	Dendrolirium tomentosum
–	Inflorescence white cottony-hairy; flower light yellowish green or white	2
2	Lip entire	Dendrolirium lanigerum
–	Lip 3-lobed	Dendrolirium lasiopetalum

Dendrolirium lanigerum (Seidenf.) J. M. H. Shaw (Figs. 39 and 40)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome creeping, many nodes; roots from nodes. Pseudobulbs borne 2–5 cm apart on rhizome, ovoid, 3–4 mm long, 2–3 cm in diam., apex with 3 leaves. Leaf blade elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 12–30 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide, with 8–14 main veins, apex acuminate. Inflorescences 4–5 cm long, laxly 3–6 flowered; flower yellowish green, rachis densely white cottony-hairy; floral bracts oblong, 3–5 cm long; pedicel and ovary densely white cottony-hairy. Sepals densely white cottony-hairy abaxially; dorsal sepal elliptic, 8 mm long, 4 mm wide; lateral sepals triangular, oblique, 6 mm long, 6 mm wide, base adnate to column foot and forming a 3.0 mm mentum. Petals falcate, 5 mm long, 2 mm wide. Lip horn-like, entire, 5 mm long, 6 mm wide, disk with a divergent ridge. Column ca. 3 mm long.

Fig. 39

Flowers of Dendrolirium lanigerum. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 40

Plants and habitat of Dendrolirium lanigerum. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: March

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 1 000–1 200 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Vietnam

Dendrolirium lasiopetalum (Willd.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 41 and 42)

Description: Rhizome creeping, ca. 5 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs borne 1.5–5 cm apart on rhizome, fusiform, 3–7.5 cm long, 1.5–3.5 cm wide, apex with 3–5 leaves. Leaf blade elliptic, 12–30 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide. Inflorescences 1 or 2; rachis densely white or grayish yellowish cottony-hairy; floral bracts abaxially with white or grayish yellowish cottony hairs. Sepals densely white or grayish yellowish cottony-hairy abaxially; dorsal sepal lanceolate, ca. 12 mm long, 2 mm wide, obtuse; lateral sepals triangular-lanceolate, slightly oblique, ca. 13 mm long, 5 mm wide. Petals linear, ca. 14 mm long, 1 mm wide, acuminate. Lip ovate in outline, ca. 11 mm long, 5 mm wide, base contracted into a claw, 3-lobed; margins of lobes undulate; lateral lobes subovate; mid-lobe suboblong; disk with an obovate-lanceolate thickened area extending from base to mid-lobe. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 41

Plants and habitat of Dendrolirium lasiopetalum. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 42

Flowers of Dendrolirium lasiopetalum. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: January–April

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 1 000–1 700 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Hainan and Yunnan Province; India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia

Dendrolirium tomentosum (J. Koenig) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 43 and 44)

Description: Rhizome ca. 5 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs slightly compressed, ellipsoid, 2–7 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam., distally 3- or 4-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic, 10–24 cm long, 1–5 cm wide, base articulate; petiole 1–1.5 cm long. Inflorescence arising from near base of an old pseudobulb, 10–30 cm long, stout, densely light brown cottony-hairy, many flowered; floral bracts ovate, 1.2–2 cm long, abaxially densely light brown cottony-hairy, adaxially sparsely hairy; pedicel and ovary densely light brown cottony-hairy. Sepals densely light brown cottony-hairy abaxially; dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, 10–15 mm long, ca. 3 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, 10–15 mm long, 4–5 mm wide. Petals linear-lanceolate, 9–13 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide. Lip recurved, suboblong in outline, 10–13 mm long, ca. 4 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes suberect, small; mid-lobe subovate-oblong, 6–7 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, margin strongly undulate; disk with a broad and thick band ca. 7 mm long from base to mid-lobe and often finely papillate around band. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 43

Plants and habitat of Dendrolirium tomentosum. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 44

Flowers of Dendrolirium tomentosum. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: April–May

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 800–1 500 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Hainan and Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam

Bryobium Lindl.

Bryobium comprises about 20 species distributed from Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia to New Guinea, Northeast Australia, and Southwest Pacific Islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There is one species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Bryobium pudicum (Ridl.) Y. P. Ng & P. J. Cribb (Figs. 45 and 46)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome 3–4 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs 0.5–1 cm apart on rhizome, ± fusiform, 3–4 cm long, 5–7 mm in diam., 2- or 3-noded, apex 1- or rarely 2-leaved. Leaf blade oblanceolate, 10–15 cm long, 1.4–2.4 cm wide. Inflorescence arising from near apex of pseudobulb, 3–4 cm long, densely grayish white pubescent, more than 10-flowered; floral bracts ovate, ca. 3 mm long, abaxially sparsely grayish white pubescent. Flowers greenish white, sepals and petals with red veins, abaxially sparsely grayish white pubescent; pedicel and ovary densely grayish white pubescent. Dorsal sepal elliptic, ca. 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, ca. 3.5 mm long, 2.2 mm wide. Petals ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, glabrous. Lip rhombic or broadly elliptic in outline, ca. 3 mm long, 2.5–3 mm wide, base with 1 reddish brown oblong callus ca. 1 mm wide, on either side with a rounded and a subovate-rounded reddish brown callus, and near apex with a reddish brown anchor-shaped median appendage. Column ca. 1 mm long.

Fig. 45

Bryobium pudicum. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 46

Inflorescence of Bryobium pudicum. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: June–July

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; ca. 1 500 m

Conservation status: NT

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Singapore and Malaysia

Pinalia Lindl.

Pinalia comprises about 160 species distributed in Eastern Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Malay Archipelago, Northeast Australia, and the Pacific Islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are 19 species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Inflorescence secund	Pinalia stricta
–	Inflorescence not secund, usually spirally arranged on axis	2
2	Lip base attenuate into a claw, contiguously joined to column foot, base contracted into a claw, adnate to column foot	3
–	Lip without claw at base, attached by a hinge to column foot	5
3	Pseudobulbs narrowly obovate; leaves 3.0–6.0 cm long; flowers sparse; lip rhombic	Pinalia bipunctata
–	Inflorescence densely flowered	4
4	Leaves elliptic, 5.0–22.0 cm long, 1.0–4.0 cm wide; lip subrhombic; mid-lobe triangular	Pinalia spicata
–	Leaves lanceolate, 5.0–10.0 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide; lip oblanceolate; mid-lobe suboblate	Pinalia salwinensis
5	Pseudobulbs consisting of 1 or 2 distinct internodes	6
–	Pseudobulbs consisting of several internodes	8
6	Pseudobulbs 8–17 cm long; leaves rather thick; lip 5-lobed	Pinalia pachyphylla
–	Pseudobulbs 2.5–3.5 cm in diam.; leaves rather thin	7
7	Pseudobulbs cylindric; lip mid-lobe warty-rugulose	Pinalia excavata
–	Pseudobulbs ellipsoid; lip mid-lobe not warty-rugulose	Pinalia yunnanensis
8	Pseudobulbs cylindric, 8–17 cm long; sepals and petals pure white	Pinalia graminifolia
–	Pseudobulbs flask-like or ovoid; sepals and petals variably colored	9
9	Pedicel and ovary glabrous; pseudobulbs fusiform; leaves 4–10 cm	Pinalia acervata
–	Pedicel and ovary pubescent or puberulent	10
10	Plants small, 4–10 cm tall; inflorescence 1–3-flowered; lip mid-lobe thickly verruculose-rugose	Pinalia szetschuanica
–	Plants larger, 12–27 cm tall; leaves 10–25 cm wide; inflorescence ca. 6- to many flowered; lip with 3 lamellae	11
11	Sepals and petals yellow with purplish brown stripes; lip 8–10 mm	Pinalia amica
–	Sepals and petals pure white; lip 5–7 mm	Pinalia obvia

Pinalia acervata (Lindl.) Kuntze (Figs. 47 and 48)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs usually 2–8, closely and regularly arranged into a row, fusiform, 2–4 cm long, 0.6–1.5 cm wide, apex 2–4-leaved. Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate, 4–10 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide, apex slightly unequally 2-lobed. Inflorescences 1–3, subterminal, 3–6 cm long, 4–7-flowered; rachis glabrous; floral bracts ovate, 5–10 mm long, 2.0–3.0 mm wide, margin sparsely denticulate. Flowers white, sepals tinged green at apex, lip yellow; pedicel and ovary ca. 1 cm long. Dorsal sepal narrowly ovate, ca. 6 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, ca. 7 mm long, 5–6 mm wide. Petals lanceolate, ca. 6 mm long, 2 mm wide, obtuse. Lip broadly cuneate in outline, ca. 7 mm long, 6 mm wide, base attached to column foot at a right angle, 3-lobed; lateral lobes falcate-oblong, ca. 2 mm long; mid-lobe orbicular, ca. 3 mm long, 3 mm wide; disk with 3 keeled lamellae from base to middle of mid-lobe. Column ca. 3 mm long.

Fig. 47

Plants of Pinalia acervata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 48

Flowers of Pinalia acervata. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: August

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or rocks in forests

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia

Pinalia stricta (Lindl.) Kuntze (Figs. 49 and 50) (Cryptochilus strictus (Lindl.) Schuit., Y. P. Ng & H. A. Pedersen)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome inconspicuous. Pseudobulbs clustered, cylindric, 2–10 cm long, 1–4 mm in diam., apex 2-leaved. Leaf blade lanceolate, 8–10 cm long, 0.6–2 cm wide; petiole ca. 6 mm long. Inflorescences 1–3, subterminal, 8–10 cm long, secund, densely many flowered; rachis and pedicel and ovary white cottony-hairy; floral bracts rhombic, ca. 1 mm long, glabrous. Sepals densely white cottony-hairy abaxially; dorsal sepal ovate, ca. 2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-triangular, ca. 2 mm long, 2 mm wide; mentum ca. 1 mm long. Petals ovate, ca. 2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, glabrous, obtuse. Lip subsquare-orbicular in outline, ca. 2 mm long, 2 mm wide, distally shallowly 3-lobed; lateral lobes small; mid-lobe ± oblate, ca. 0.5 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, obtuse-rounded; disk with 3 thickened lamellae from base to base of mid-lobe and a globose callus between 2 lateral lobes near mid-lobe base. Column ca. 1.5 mm long.

Fig. 49

Inflorescence of Pinalia stricta. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 50

Plants of Pinalia stricta. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: November to next February

Habitat: Trees in forests; 800–1 300 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; India, Nepal, and Myanmar

Pinalia amica (Rchb. f.) Kuntze (Figs. 51 and 52)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs fusiform, 3.5–14 cm long, 0.4–1.6 cm in diam., apex 1–3-leaved. Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, 10–15cm long, 1.3–2.3 cm wide. Inflorescences 1 or 2, arising from middle or upper part of pseudobulb, rarely near base, suberect, 3–7 cm long, sparsely 6–10-flowered; rachis with dense rusty hairs; floral bracts elliptic, 8–12 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, glabrous. Flowers buff-yellow, with red veins and yellow apices, lip pink with bright yellow apex, lateral lobes and keels red; pedicel and ovary with dense rusty hairs. Sepals with rusty hairs; dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, ca. 10 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, ca. 10 mm long, 4 mm wide, acuminate; mentum ca. 3 mm wide. Petals obovate-lanceolate, 8–9 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide. Lip subovate-elliptic in outline, ca. 8 mm long, 6 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes incurved, ovate-elliptic, ca. 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; mid-lobe reniform, 3–4 mm long, ca. 4.5 mm wide, fleshy except for middle part, apex emarginate; disk with 3 lamellae; central lamella extending to mid-lobe and thickened there, lateral 2 to near base of mid-lobe and thickened in apical half. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 51

Pinalia amica. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 52

Flowers of Pinalia amica. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: March–April

Habitat: Epiphytic on trees in forests; 900–2 200 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Taiwan and Yunnan Province; India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia

Pinalia bipunctata (Lindl.) Kuntze (Figs. 53 and 54)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs contiguous, narrowly obovoid, 3–4 cm mm long, 8–12 mm in diam., usually with 1 or 2 nodes, apex usually 4-leaved. Leaves shortly petiolate, 3–6 cm long, 1–2 cm wide. Inflorescences arising from near apex of pseudobulb, arching, 3–4 cm long, sparsely pubescent, sparsely 10- or more flowered; floral bracts reflexed, broadly elliptic, ca. 5 mm long. Flowers white, glabrous; pedicel and ovary ca. 5 mm long, sparsely pubescent. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic, ca. 5 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals oblong-elliptic, ca. 6 mm long, 4 mm wide; mentum ca. 3 mm wide. Petals oblong, ca. 4 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Lip rhombic in outline, ca. 4 mm long, 4 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes perpendicular to mid-lobe, subtriangular, ca. 3 mm long; mid-lobe subtriangular, ca. 1 mm long, 1 mm wide, conspicuously thickened. Column ca. 2 mm long.

Fig. 53

Plants and habitat of Pinalia bipunctata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 54

Flowers of Pinalia bipunctata. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: July

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks in forests; ca. 1700 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Thailand, and Vietnam

Pinalia excavata (Lindl.) Kuntze (Figs. 55 and 56)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs borne ca. 1 cm apart from each other, cylindric, ca. 3 cm long, consisting of 1 distinct internode, sheathing at base, apex 4- or 5-leaved. Leaf blade elliptic-oblanceolate, 16–18 cm long, 2–3.4 cm wide, base contracted into petiole. Inflorescence arising from leaf axil, 15–18 cm long, reddish brown pubescent, sparsely few flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 7–8 mm long. Flowers white; sepals and petals brown pubescent abaxially. Dorsal sepal subelliptic, ca. 9 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, ca. 9 mm long, 4 mm wide. Petals elliptic, ca. 6 mm long, 2 mm wide. Lip suborbicular, nearly 5 mm wide, concave at base, 3-lobed from near base; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, small, each with an erect callus adaxially; mid-lobe subreniform, ca. 4 mm long, 5 mm wide, apex emarginate, warty-rugulose, with variable calli, usually 2-callose basally, sometimes with 5 flabellate, lamellate or thickened veins from base; central one extending to apex forming an apiculum. Column ca. 1 mm long.

Fig. 55

Pinalia excavata. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 56

Close up of flowers of Pinalia excavata. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: June

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks in forests; 1700–2100 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; Nepal and India

Pinalia graminifolia (Lindl.) Kuntze (Figs. 57 and 58)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs densely arranged in a row on rhizome, cylindric, 8–17 cm long, 3–8 mm in diam., apex 5- or 6-leaved. Leaves sessile, elliptic, 5–16 cm long, 0.8–3 cm wide, base contracted. Inflorescences 1–3, subterminal, shorter than leaves, more than 10-flowered; rachis and ovary densely yellowish brown pubescent; floral bracts ovate, 5–10 mm long. Flowers white, spotted with yellow on lip. Dorsal sepal oblong, 6–8 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide; lateral sepals subfalcate, ca. 8 mm long, 3 mm wide. Petals narrowly oblong, 5–6 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide. Lip obovate in outline, ca. 5 mm long, 4 mm wide, 3-lobed from near middle; lateral lobes divaricate, oblong, apex reflexed; mid-lobe nearly oblate, rounded or acute, with a high central lamella from base to apical 2/3; disk with 3 thickened veins, lateral veins each with a triangular callus halfway. Column ca. 2 mm long.

Fig. 57

Plants and habitat of Pinalia graminifolia. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 58

Pinalia graminifolia. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: June–July

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on rocks in forests; 1600–2500 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province and regions; India, Bhutan, and Nepal

Pinalia obvia (W. W. Sm.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 59 and 60)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs ± tufted, fusiform, 4–6.5 cm long, 1–1.4 cm in diam., apex 3- or 4-leaved. Leaves subsessile, elliptic, 5–20 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide, base attenuate. Inflorescences 1–3, subterminal, many flowered; rachis with yellowish brown hairs or nearly glabrous; floral bracts lanceolate, 1–2 cm long. Flowers white. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 8–10 mm long, 2–3 mm wide; lateral sepals lanceolate, 7–9 mm long, 3–5 mm wide. Petals linear-lanceolate, 7–8 mm long, 1–2 mm wide. Lip suboblong in outline, 3–7 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, 3-lobed above middle; lateral lobes subovate, 1–2 mm long; mid-lobe oblong, 2–3 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, rounded; disk with 3 lamellae, central lamella running to base of mid-lobe. Column 2–4 mm long.

Fig. 59

Pinalia obvia. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 60

Plants and habitat of Pinalia obvia. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: April–May

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or rocks in forests; 700–2000 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan Province

Pinalia pachyphylla (Aver.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 61 and 62)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome stout, densely covered with membranous sheaths. Pseudobulbs oblong, 8–17 cm long, nearly 1 cm in diam., 1-noded, young pseudobulb arising from near middle of an old pseudobulb, apex 2–4-leaved. Leaves subsessile, oblong, 13–23 cm long, ca. 2 cm wide, fleshy, base narrowed, articulate. Inflorescence subterminal, ca. 24 cm long, yellowish brown hairs, many flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 1.5–3 cm long, both surfaces yellowish brown hairs. Flowers yellowish brown, ± fleshy. Sepals densely yellowish brown tomentose abaxially; dorsal sepal oblong, 12–15 mm long, 6–8 mm wide; lateral sepals subtriangular, 10–12 mm long, 8–10 mm wide. Petals oblong, 12–13 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, glabrous. Lip 5-lobed, 2 basal lobes ± auriculate; 2 lateral lobes conduplicate; mid-lobe recurved, oblong, truncate; disk thickened, strongly convex, adaxially papillate, near base with 3 transverse channels. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 61

Plants of Pinalia pachyphylla. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 62

Flowers of Pinalia pachyphylla. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: April–June

Habitat: Epiphytic on trees or lithophytic on rocks in forests; 650–1000 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan and Guangxi Province

Pinalia salwinensis (Hand.-Mazz.) Ormerod (Figs. 63 and 64)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs densely arranged along rhizome, cylindric, 5–20 cm long, 0.3–0.4 cm in diam., apex 2–6-leaved. Leaves lanceolate, 5–10 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide, sessile. Inflorescences 1–5, arising from subapex of rhizome, shorter than leaves, densely many flowered. Flowers yellow, lip dark yellow, pedicel and ovary yellowish brown pubescent. Lip oblanceolate, 3-lobed, mid-lobe nearly oblate. Column ca. 2.0 mm long.

Fig. 63

Close up of flowers of Pinalia salwinensis. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 64

Plants of Pinalia salwinensis. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: June–July

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or rocks in forests; 800–1500 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Yunnan Province

Pinalia spicata (D. Don) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 65 and 66)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs cylindric, 3–16 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm in diam., apex 2–4-leaved. Leaves elliptic, 5–22 cm long, 1–4 cm wide. Inflorescences 1–3, arising from near apex of pseudobulb, 3–5 cm long, densely many flowered, with 2 basal sheaths; rachis, pedicel, and ovary densely rusty puberulent; floral bracts lanceolate, ca. 8 mm long. Flowers white, lip apex yellow. Dorsal sepal elliptic, ca. 6 mm long, 2.5 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-triangular, oblique, ca. 6 mm long, 3.5 mm wide. Petals elliptic, ca. 5 mm long, 2 mm wide. Lip subrhombic in outline, ca. 5 mm long, 5 mm wide, base narrowed into a claw, 3-lobed; lateral lobes perpendicular to mid-lobe, ovate-triangular; mid-lobe deltoid, ca. 1 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, thickened. Column ca. 2 mm long.

Fig. 65

Pinalia spicata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 66

Inflorescence of Pinalia spicata. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: July–October

Habitat: Epiphytic on trees or on rocks in forests; 800–2800 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand

Pinalia szetschuanica (Schltr.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 67 and 68)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs oblong, slightly curved, 10–30 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, apex 2–4-leaved. Leaves shortly petiolate, oblong lanceolate, 3.5–5 mm long, 0.4–0.7 cm wide. Inflorescences 1 or 2, 1–3-flowered; peduncle ca. 2 cm long, with small sheaths at base; rachis often brownish villous; floral bracts lanceolate, ca. 6 mm long. Flowers white, lip yellow; pedicel and ovary longer than floral bract, brown villous. Dorsal sepal elliptic, ca. 8 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely oblong, ca. 8 mm long, 4 mm wide. Petals obovate-oblong, ca. 8 mm long, 2 mm wide. Lip obovate, ca. 6 mm long, 5 mm wide, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ± suborbicular, ca. 2.5 mm long, 2.5 mm wide; mid-lobe ovate, 2–3 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide, ± thickened, adaxially papillate; disk with 3 veins from base to base of mid-lobe. Column ca. 3 mm long.

Fig. 67

Pinalia szetschuanica. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 68

Flowers of Pinalia szetschuanica. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: May–June

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or rocks in forests; ca. 2300 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Guangdong, Sichuan, and Yunnan Province

Pinalia yunnanensis (S. C. Chen & Z. H. Tsi) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 69 and 70)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid, 2.5–3 mm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam., 1- or 2-noded, usually with a smaller leaf near or above middle and 3 or 4 much larger leaves at apex. Apical leaves narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 8–16.5 cm long, 0.6–1.4 cm wide. Inflorescences 1 or 2, subterminal, 4.5–7.5 cm long, many flowered; floral bracts reflexed. Flowers greenish white, ca. 3 mm in diam. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, ca. 3 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, similar in size to dorsal sepal. Petals ovate, ca. 2 mm long, 1.5–1.8 mm wide. Lip ± cross-shaped in outline, 2–2.5 mm wide, base with a grooved claw 0.6–0.8 mm long, 3-lobed; lateral lobes more or less quadrate-flabellate, ca. 1 mm long, 1 mm wide, margins undulate; mid-lobe oblong, ca. 1.2 mm long, 1 mm wide; disk with 4 or 5 slightly thickened veins. Column ca. 0.7 mm long.

Fig. 69

Plants and habitat of Pinalia yunnanensis. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 70

Pinalia yunnanensis. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: July–August

Habitat: Trees in forests; ca. 1500 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Yunnan Province

Trichotosia Bl.

Trichotosia comprises about 50 species distributed from mainland Asia through Southeast Asia to New Guinea and Pacific islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are five species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Stems creeping, less than 6 cm long; inflorescence 1-flowered	2
–	Stems erect or pendulous; inflorescence 1–6-flowered	3
2	Leaves 5–10, alternate; plant erect, stem 4.0–6.0 cm long; lip with 5 abaxial conical apical calli	Trichotosia microphylla
–	Leaves 2–5; stems inconspicuous; lip without callus	Trichotosia dasyphylla
3	Stems pendulous, up to 100 cm long, old growth brown hispid; inflorescence 3–6-flowered; flowers white	Trichotosia pulvinata
–	Stems erect, 3–8 cm long, white hirsute; leaves slightly narrower, 3–5 mm wide; inflorescence 1-flowered; flowers yellowish green; lip with 2 purple central calli	Trichotosia dongfangensis

Trichotosia dasyphylla (E. C. Parish & Rchb. f.) Kraenzl. (Figs. 71 and 72)

Description: Epiphytic. Plants 2–3 cm tall, with ± tufted rhizomes. Stem very short. Leaves 2–5, tufted, elliptic, 10–15 cm long, 4–6 mm wide; petiole 3–4 cm long, running down to a trumpet-shaped basal sheath. Inflorescences axillary, with a solitary flower; floral bracts triangular, persistent, ca. 2 mm long. Flowers pale yellow. Sepals with dense long white hairs abaxially; dorsal sepal ovate lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, 1–2 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely triangular, 5–6 mm long, ca. 4 mm wide; mentum ca. 4 mm long, 2 mm wide. Petals oblong, 3–4 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, abaxially with dense white long hairs. Lip obovate-oblong, 5–6 mm long, ca. 3 mm wide, slightly contracted at middle, thickened, abaxially with white long hairs, margin ciliate, with 2 suboblong calli on both sides, with a slightly thickened area between calli. Column ca. 1.5 mm long; foot ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 71

Flower of Trichotosia dasyphylla. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 72

Plants of Trichotosia dasyphylla. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: March–May

Habitat: Trees in forests; 900–1600 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam

Trichotosia dongfangensis X. H. Jin & L. P. Siu (Figs. 73 and 74)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome creeping, branching, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Stems borne ca. 1 cm apart, 3–8 cm long, bearing 5–7 leaves closely arranged in 2 rows. Leaves fleshy, oblong to lanceolate, ca. 10 mm long, 5 mm wide, blade and sheath densely covered with white hairs. Inflorescence lateral, 1-flowered; floral bracts 4, subulate, 1–3 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, hairy. Flower yellowish green. Sepals coarsely hairy abaxially; dorsal sepal narrowly elliptic, ca. 3 mm long, 2 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely triangular, ca. 5 mm long, 3 mm wide, truncate. Petals lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, glabrous. Lip entire, ligulate, ca. 7 mm long, 3 mm wide, shortly hairy, slightly concave at base, with a subglobose basal callus and 2 purple calli at center. Column ca. 1.2 mm long.

Fig. 73

Plants of Trichotosia dongfangensis. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 74

Trichotosia dongfangensis. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: October–November

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1300–1500 m

Conservation status: DD

Distribution: Hainan Province

Trichotosia microphylla Bl. (Fig. 75)

Description: Plants epiphytic, 4–6 cm tall, white hirsute. Rhizome long. Stems ± tufted or 1–1.5 cm apart, erect, cylindric, 4–12 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam., covered with leaf sheaths. Leaves 5–10, alternate leaf blade narrowly elliptic, 8–17 cm long, 3–5 mm wide. Inflorescence arising from upper portion of stem, opposite a leaf, 1-flowered; peduncle covered by 1 or 2 sheaths; floral bracts densely arranged, lanceolate, ca. 6 mm long, covered with long hairs, acuminate. Flowers yellow. Sepals white hirsute abaxially; dorsal sepal ovate, ca. 3 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide; lateral sepals oblong, ca. 5 mm long, 3 mm wide; mentum ca. 4 mm long. Petals oblong, ca. 2.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Lip subovate-oblong, ca. 5 mm long, 2.5 mm wide, slightly contracted near middle, abaxially hirsute, base connected at a right angle with column foot, margin entire; disk with 5 lamellae extending from base to near apex, near middle with a purple ellipsoid callus on either side.

Fig. 75

Plants of Trichotosia microphylla. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Flowering time: April–June

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1000–1500 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hainan and Yunnan Province; Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia

Trichotosia pulvinata (Lindl.) Kraenzl. (Figs. 76 and 77)

Description: Plants epiphytic, reddish brown tomentose. Stem pendulous, cylindric, often to 50–100 cm long, 6–8 mm in diam., with many nodes, internodes ca. 2 cm. Leaves alternate along stem, lanceolate, oblique, 6–10 cm long, 1–1.8 cm wide, both surfaces reddish brown tomentose, sheathing at base; reddish brown tomentose. Inflorescence borne above middle of stem, arising opposite leaves, ca. 2 cm long, 3–6-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 mm long, reddish brown tomentose abaxially. Flowers white, flushed pink. Sepals reddish brown tomentose abaxially; dorsal sepal oblong, ca. 10 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-triangular, oblique, ca. 10 mm long, 4 mm wide. Petals lanceolate, ca. 8 mm long, 2 mm wide, glabrous. Lip subspatulate in outline, ca. 13 mm long, 4 mm wide, entire, margin reflexed; disk with an elongate pulvinate callus toward apex. Column ca. 4 mm long.

Fig. 76

Trichotosia pulvinata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 77

Plants and habitat of Trichotosia pulvinata. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: July

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 800–2000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Guangxi and Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia

Oxystophyllum Bl.

Oxystophyllum comprises about 36 species distributed from Southeast Asia to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. There is one species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Oxystophyllum changjiangense (S. J. Cheng & C. Z. Tang) M. A. Clements (Figs. 78 and 79)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome creeping. Stems erect or decumbent, 6–9 cm long, 2–4 mm in diam., branched or unbranched, completely enclosed in leaf sheaths. Leaves distichous, laterally compressed and shortly sword-shaped, 3–5 cm long, 6–10 mm wide, thickly fleshy, sheathing at base. Inflorescences often subterminal, ca. 1 cm long, flowers opening one at a time in succession; floral bracts broadly ovate, 4–7 mm long. Flowers spreading, purplish black. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 4–5 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, ca. as long as dorsal sepal and slightly broader, base oblique; mentum large. Petals oblong, 4–4.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, rounded and mucronulate. Lip ligulate, 6–7 mm long, 2.5–3 mm wide, thickly fleshy, with a subapical wart abaxially, lateral margins slightly lacerate at middle, rounded, adnate to column foot at apex, recurved above middle. Column ca. 1.5 mm long.

Fig. 78

Plants of Oxystophyllum changjiangense. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Fig. 79

Plants and habit of Oxystophyllum changjiangense. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Flowering time: May–December

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; under 1000 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Hainan province; Indonesia

Callostylis Bl.

Callostylis comprises about five species distributed in China, Eastern Himalayas, and Southeast Asia (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are two species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Plants without pseudobulbs; rhizomes tufted, terete; stem long	Callostylis bambusifolia
–	Pseudobulbs well spaced along rhizome, 5–10 cm long, clavate to flask-shaped	Callostylis rigida

Callostylis bambusifolia (Lindl.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 80, 81, and 82)

Description: Lithophytic. Stems clustered, cylindrical, 20–70 cm long, 3–7 mm in diam., with many internodes and leaves. Leaves distichous, mostly on upper part of stem; blade narrowly lanceolate, 10–22 cm long, 1–3 cm long. Inflorescences 2–7, arising from near apex of stem, opposite to leaves, 10–22 cm long; rachis usually zigzag; rachis, pedicel, ovary, and abaxial surface of floral bracts and sepals densely grayish brown hairy; floral bracts reflexed, obovate-oblong, ca. 5 mm long, adaxially sparsely hairy. Flowers white, with brownish red veins. Dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, ca. 12 mm long, 3 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely oblong-lanceolate, ca. 10 mm long, 5 mm wide, obtuse. Petals oblong-lanceolate, ca. 11 mm long, 2.5 mm wide. Lip ovate-oblong in outline, ca. 10 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, subentire; lateral lobes rudimentary, base and apex ± thickened, mucronate, base with an upcurved claw ca. 2 mm long; disk brownish red, with 3 densely white pubescent lamellae extending from base to apex, lamellae thickened at base, distally becoming thinner and disappearing. Column ca. 8 mm long.

Fig. 80

Plant and habitat of Callostylis bambusifolia. (By Deping Ye)

Fig. 81

Callostylis bambusifolia. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 82

Flowers of Callostylis bambusifolia. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: November–December

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 950–1 200 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Guangxi and Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam

Callostylis rigida Bl. (Figs. 83 and 84)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome creeping, 4–8 mm in diam.; internodes 1–2 cm long; cylindric sheaths 1–1.5 cm long. Pseudobulbs oblong-fusiform, 6–16 cm long, 2–3 cm in diam., distally 4- or 5-leaved. Leaf blade suboblong 12–17 cm long, 2.4–4.3 cm wide. Inflorescences often 2–4, racemose, 1.5–4.5 cm long, more than 10-flowered; peduncle 2.5–3.5 cm long, shortly brown tomentose; floral bracts reflexed, suborbicular, 3–4 mm long, both surfaces shortly tomentose. Flowers greenish yellow; sepals with grayish brown hairs abaxially and sparsely white pubescent adaxially; lip brown. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 8–10 mm long, 4–5 mm wide; lateral sepals slightly shorter and broader. Petals narrowly elliptic-obovate, 7–8 mm long, 3.5–4 mm wide. Lip ± broadly cordate, 3.5–4 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, mucronate, with a cushion-like callus in basal half. Column curved forward at right angle.

Fig. 83

Plants and habitat of Callostylis rigida. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 84

Flowers of Callostylis rigida. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: May–June

Habitat: On trees or rocks in forests; 1100–1700 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia

Porpax Lindl.

Porpax comprises about 13 species distributed in mainland Asia with few species extending into Borneo. There are two species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Porpax ustulata (E. C. Parish & Rchb. f.) Rolfe (Figs. 85 and 86)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs flattened globose, 4–5 mm long, 5–6 mm in diam., covered with strongly reticulate-veined sheaths; reticulate veins convex. Leaves 2, developing at anthesis; leaf blade obovate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 0.8–1.4 cm wide, base contracted into a short petiole, margin thinly ciliate, apex rounded or slightly acute; petiole 2–4 cm long. Inflorescence arising between 2 apical leaves, very short, 1- or 2-flowered. Flowers suberect, red, 6–7 mm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 6–7 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, abaxially pubescent, connate to lateral sepals shortly at base; lateral sepals fused with each other at 1/2–2/3 their length, base dilated forming a subglobose sac, abaxially hairy. Petals spathulate, 5–6 mm long, ca. 2 mm wide, margin ± erose, adaxially with faint small silvery white dots. Lip recurved, suboblong-lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long, 0.7 mm wide, base contracted, distal margin shortly fimbriate.

Fig. 85

Plants of Porpax ustulata. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 86

Plants of Porpax ustulata. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: June

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 1200–1500 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos

Ceratostylis Bl.

Ceratostylis comprises about 147 species distributed in tropical Asia to New Guinea and the Pacific Islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are four species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Leaves subterete, grooved on one side; stem 6.0–18.0 cm long, only base enclosed in scale-like sheaths	Ceratostylis subulata
–	Leaves linear to narrowly oblong; stem less than 10.0 cm long, completely enclosed in scale-like sheaths	2
2	Leaves rather big, 35.0–65.0 mm long; flower big, dorsal sepal 5.0–6.0 mm long, ovary and sepals abaxially pubescent	Ceratostylis himalaica
–	Leaves small, 25.0 mm long; flower small, sepals 3.0 mm wide, ovary and sepals abaxially pubescent	Ceratostylis siamensis

Ceratostylis himalaica Hook. f. (Figs. 87 and 88)

Description: Plants epiphytic or lithophytic. Stems clustered, pendulous, dichotomously branched, completely enclosed in scale-like sheaths. Leaf blade linear, 3.5–6.5 cm long, 0.3–0.7 cm wide, obliquely notched; petiole 4–6 cm long. Inflorescence arising from leaf base, subcapitate, 2- or 3-flowered; floral bracts ovate, 4–5 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide. Flowers small, white spotted with purplish red. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 5–6 mm long, 2–3.5 mm wide, abaxially pubescent; lateral sepals broadly ovate, 3.5–4.5 mm long, abaxially pubescent. Petals linear, 3.5–4.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, glabrous. Lip suboblong, cymbiform, 2–3 mm long, thickened, base deeply saccate, margin entire, apex with a cushion-like callus abaxially; disk slightly hairy.

Fig. 87

Plants of Ceratostylis himalaica. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 88

Ceratostylis himalaica. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: April–June

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 900–1700 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam

Ceratostylis siamensis Rolfe ex Downie (Figs. 89 and 90)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Stems clustered, stout, terminal 1-leaved. Leaf blade linear, 25 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, apex unequally 2-lobed. Inflorescence terminal, 1- or 2-flowered; floral bracts ovate, 4–5 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide. Flowers white spotted with purplish red, lip pale yellow. Sepals abaxially pubescent; dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate, 3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; lateral sepals broadly ovate, 2.2 mm long, 3.0 mm wide. Petals narrowly oblong, 2.5 mm long, 1.0 mm wide. Lip oblong, 2.5–3.0 mm long, cymbiform, base deeply saccate, margin entire, apex with a cushion-like callus.

Fig. 89

Plants and habitat of Ceratostylis siamensis. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 90

Close up of flowers of Ceratostylis siamensis. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: October–November

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on rocks in forests; 1500–1900 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Thailand and Indonesia

Ceratostylis subulata Bl. (Fig. 91)

Description: Plants epiphytic or lithophytic. Rhizome short. Stems clustered, cylindrical, rushlike, 6–18 cm long, apex with 1 leaf and 1 shortened inflorescence. Leaf subcylindric, 10–15 cm long, ca. 2 mm wide, attenuate toward apex. Inflorescence terminal, capitate, sessile, several flowered, base with several sterile bracts 5–7 mm long; floral bracts 4–6 mm wide. Flowers greenish yellow or yellow. Sepals oblong, ca. 2.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, abaxially hairy; lateral sepals slightly wider than dorsal sepal; mentum subclavate, ca. 0.5 mm wide, slightly 2-lobed, outer surface shortly hairy. Petals lanceolate-rhombic, ca. 3 mm long, 0.7 mm wide, glabrous. Lip somewhat spatulate, 2–3 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm wide, distal part thickened and fleshy, base narrowed into a claw; claw with 2 longitudinal lamellae adaxially.

Fig. 91

Plants and habitat of Ceratostylis subulata. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: June–November

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 750–1100 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hainan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines

Cryptochilus Wall.

Cryptochilus comprises about ten species distributed in Eastern Himalayas, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are three species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Pseudobulbs 1-leaved; sepals free, dorsally carinate	Cryptochilus roseus
–	Pseudobulbs 2-leaved; sepals connate into an urceolate tube, not dorsally carinate	2
2	Flower red; sepaline tube densely white pubescent abaxially	Cryptochilus sanguinea
–	Flower yellowish green; sepaline tube glabrous abaxially	Cryptochilus lutea

Cryptochilus lutea Lindl. (Figs. 92 and 93)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs clustered on a short rhizome, cylindrical, 1.5–3.5 cm long, 5–10 mm in diam., 2-leaved. Leaf blade narrowly oblong, 5–16.5 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide; petiole 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence subdensely 20–40-flowered; floral bracts alternate, narrowly lanceolate, 6–14 mm long, grooved. Flowers yellowish green. Sepals connate into an urceolate tube, 3–5 mm wide, outer surface glabrous; free apical lobes ovate-triangular, ca. 1 mm wide; lateral sepals convex on one side; mentum saccate, short. Petals hidden in mentum, obovate-lanceolate, 3.5–4 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm wide. Lip subrhombic-cuneate, 3.5–4 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm wide, base slightly curved. Column short.

Fig. 92

Plants of Cryptochilus lutea. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 93

Flowers of Cryptochilus lutea. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: June–July

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1500–2300 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; Bhutan and India

Cryptochilus roseus (Lindl.) S. C. Chen & J. J. Wood (Figs. 94 and 95)

Description: Lithophytic or epiphytic. Rhizome stout, ca. 1 cm in diam. Pseudobulbs contiguous, or 1–2 cm apart from each other, ovoid, 2–5 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, enclosed in sheaths when young, apex 1-leaved. Leaf blade lanceolate, 16–40 cm long, 2–5 cm wide; petiole 3–6 cm long. Inflorescence nearly as long as leaf, laxly 2–5-flowered. Flowers white or pink. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, ca. 12 mm long, 5 mm wide, dorsally carinate; lateral sepals triangular-lanceolate, ca. 14 mm long, 8–9 mm wide, dorsally carinate; mentum ca. 4 mm long. Petals subrhombic, ca. 11 mm long, 6 mm wide. Lip obovate-elliptic or subovate in outline, 13–14 mm long, 8–10 mm wide, base narrowed, 3-lobed; lateral lobes incurved, subovate; mid-lobe subspatulate, 4–6 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, apex emarginate; disk with 2 or 3 thickened lamellae running from base to base of mid-lobe, further divided into 7 thinner lamellae. Column ca. 6 mm long.

Fig. 94

Plants and habitat of Cryptochilus roseus. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 95

Cryptochilus roseus. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: November to next February

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; ca. 1300 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hong Kong, Hainan, and Yunnan; Myanmar

Cryptochilus sanguinea Wall. (Figs. 96 and 97)

Description: Epiphytic. Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs cylindric, 1.5–3 cm long, 5–8 mm wide, 2-leaved. Leaf blade narrowly oblong, 6–15 mm long, 1.5–3 cm wide. Inflorescence subdensely 10–30-flowered; rachis 4–9 cm long, glabrous; floral bracts distichous, subulate-lanceolate, 5–21 mm long, grooved, pubescent externally. Flowers 6–11 mm long, sepaline tube scarlet with purple apices, densely white pubescent; petals, lip, and column yellow. Sepals connate into a tube 6–9 mm long, outer surface densely white villous; free apical lobes ovate-triangular, 3–4 mm long; lateral sepals conspicuously convex on one side at base forming a saccate mentum. Petals hidden in mentum, oblanceolate, 5–6 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide. Lip completely hidden in sepaline tube, suboblong, ca. 7 mm long, 2 mm wide. Column short.

Fig. 96

Plants and habitat of Cryptochilus sanguinea. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 97

Cryptochilus sanguinea. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: June–August

Habitat: Trees in forests; 1800–2100 m

Conservation status: EN

Distribution: Yunnan and Xizang Province; India and Nepal

Appendicula Bl.

Appendicula comprises about 60 species distributed in tropical Asia and Oceania (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are four species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Leaves rather small, 0.8–1.7 cm long; flower small; dorsal sepal ca. 2.5 mm	Appendicula annamensis
–	Leaves rather big, 2.5–3.5 cm long; flower big; dorsal sepal ca. 3.5 mm	Appendicula cornuta

Appendicula annamensis Guillaum. (Figs. 98 and 99)

Description: Plants lithophytic. Stems tufted, densely leafy, to 33 cm long, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Leaves spreading, distichous; blade pale green, ovate-oblong, 0.8–1.7 cm long, 0.5–0.8 cm long. Inflorescences usually pseudoterminal, 5–20 mm long, successively ca. 20-flowered but usually with 1–3 flowers open at once; floral bracts ovate, 2–2.5 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide. Flowers white. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, ca. 2.5 mm long, 1.8 mm wide, weakly dorsally carinate; lateral sepals broadly obliquely ovate, ca. 3 mm long, 2.1 mm wide; mentum rather tapered, ca. 1 mm wide. Petals oblong-elliptic, ca. 2 mm long, 1 mm wide. Lip ca. 3 mm long, 2 mm wide, subglobose in basal half, in upper half a broadly ovate, subacute epichile; callus retrorse, subquadrate. Column ca. 1.5 mm long.

Fig. 98

Flowers of Appendicula annamensis. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Fig. 99

Plants and habitat of Appendicula annamensis. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Flowering time: April–May

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; 300–700 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Hainan Province; Vietnam

Appendicula cornuta Bl. (Figs. 100 and 101)

Description: Plants epiphytic or lithophytic. Stems tufted, 20–50 cm long, 2–3 mm in diam., unbranched, internodes ca. 1 cm long, completely enclosed in tubular sheaths of leaves. Leaves many, distichous, alternate; blade narrowly ovate-elliptic, 25–35 mm long, 6–12 mm wide, apex unequally 2-lobed or emarginate, often apiculate, tubular-sheathed at base; sheaths persistent, ca. 1 cm long, amplexicaul. Inflorescence shorter than leaves, usually 1–1.5 cm long, 2–6-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, 4–5 mm long. Flowers white, ca. 5 mm in diam. Dorsal sepal elliptic, ca. 3.5 mm long, 1.8–2 mm wide, concave; lateral sepals obliquely triangular, 4–5 mm long, 2–2.5 mm wide; mentum ca. 1 mm long. Petals ovate-oblong, 2.5–3 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm wide. Lip suboblong, 3.5–4 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm wide, slightly contracted near middle, margin crisped, distal part with a thickened lamellate appendage, with another large appendage near base; basal appendage spreading backward, suborbicular. Column ca. 2 mm long.

Fig. 100

Plants and habitat of Appendicula cornuta. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 101

Flowers of Appendicula cornuta. (By Jianwu Li)

Flowering time: July–August

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; ca. 800 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, and Yunnan; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc

Podochilus Bl.

Podochilus comprises about 62 species distributed from India, Sri Lanka to China, south and east through Indonesia and New Guinea to the Pacific Islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are two species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Podochilus khasianus Hook. f. (Figs. 102 and 103)

Description: Stems tufted, ascending, subterete, 4–12 cm long, internodes 3–4 mm long. Leaves many, distichous; blade narrowly oblong, often ± falcately curved, 6–7 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, somewhat fleshy, with amplexicaul tubular sheaths at base, articulate, margin incurved. Inflorescence terminal or lateral, usually 2–4-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long. Flowers white or tinged with green, very small. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 2–2.2 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide; lateral sepals ovate-triangular, 2.2–2.5 mm long. Petals suboblong, ca. 1.6 mm long, 0.7 mm wide. Lip oblong, 1–2.4 mm long, 0.8–0.9 mm wide, slightly thickened and incurved, attached at base to column foot by a distinct claw. Column short.

Fig. 102

Plants of Podochilus khasianus. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 103

Flowers of Podochilus khasianus. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: July–September

Habitat: Trees in forests; 450–1900 m

Conservation status: NT

Distribution: Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan Province and regions; India and Myanmar

Thelasis Bl.

Thelasis comprises about 26 species mainly distributed from India eastward to New Guinea and Pacific Islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are two species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Lateral sepals strongly carinate abaxially; lip incurved at margin	Thelasis pygmaea
–	Lateral sepals not carinate abaxially; lip not incurved at margin	Thelasis khasiana

Thelasis khasiana Hook. f. (Figs. 104 and 105)

Description: Pseudobulbs contiguous, ovoid, 1–1.5 mm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam., apex with 1 leaf or sometimes with another smaller leaf. Larger leaf blade oblanceolate-linear, 9–12 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm wide, base contracted into petiole 1.5–2 cm wide; smaller leaf blade (if present) subelliptic, ca. 1 cm long. Inflorescence arising from base of pseudobulb, 16–19 cm long; rachis slightly arching, 6–7 cm long, 20- or more flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm long. Flowers yellowish green, not opening widely. Dorsal sepal ovate, 2.5–3.1 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm wide; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal, slightly cymbiform, abaxially not keeled or sometimes base slightly ridged. Petals narrowly oblong, 2.1–2.4 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm wide. Lip ovate lanceolate, ca. 3 mm long, 1.3 mm wide, margin not involute. Column short.

Fig. 104

Flowers of Thelasis khasiana. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 105

Plants and habitat of Thelasis khasiana. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: July

Habitat: Trees in forests; 800–2000 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc

Thelasis pygmaea (Griff.) Bl. (Figs. 106 and 107)

Description: Epiphytic. Pseudobulbs tufted, flattened globose, 3–10 cm long, 7–18 mm wide, apex often with 1 large leaf and 1 smaller leaf. Larger leaf blade narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, 4–8 cm long, 0.6–1.3 cm wide; smaller leaf blade suboblong, 0.7–1.5 cm long, sometimes absent. Inflorescence 10–20 cm long, slender; rachis ± arching, 5–10 cm long, often thickened, densely many flowered. Flowers yellowish green, not opening widely. Dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide; lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal, cymbiform, abaxially keeled or sometimes narrowly winged. Petals suboblong, ca. 2 mm long, 0.7 mm wide. Lip ovate triangular, ca. 1.8 mm long, 1.2 mm wide, margin incurved. Column short.

Fig. 106

Thelasis pygmaea. (By Jianwu Li)

Fig. 107

Flowers of Thelasis pygmaea. (By Deping Ye)

Flowering time: April–October

Habitat: Trees or rocks in forests; under 1100 m

Conservation status: LC

Distribution: Taiwan, Hainan and Yunnan Province; India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines

Phreatia Lindl.

Phreatia comprises about 211 species mainly distributed in Indonesia and New Guinea with a few species extending into Australia and Pacific Islands (Chase et al. 2015; Pridgeon et al. 2005; Yan Peng et al. 2018). There are five species in China (Chen et al. 2009; Zhou et al. 2021).

Key to species

1	Stem 4.0–10.0 cm long; leaves 7.0–20.0 cm long; lip suborbicular	Phreatia elegans
–	Stem very short; leaves 2–9 cm long; lip suboblate	Phreatia formosana

Phreatia elegans Lindl. (Figs. 108 and 109)

Description: Plants epiphytic. Stems 4–10 cm long. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 7–20 cm long, 0.4–1.5 cm wide, articulate. Inflorescence 5–15 cm long, densely many-flowered with 3–5 tubular sheaths; floral bracts subovate, 1–1.5 mm long. Flowers white; pedicel and ovary slightly curved, ca. 0.3 mm in diam. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, ca. 0.2 mm long; lateral sepals obliquely triangular, ca. 0.2 cm long. Petals ovate, ca. 1.5 mm long. Lip with a claw, disk suborbicular, pubescent, ca. 2.5 mm long, mentum saccate, ca. 0.1 cm long. Column truncate and short, apex with 2 horns, horn ca. 1 mm long.

Fig. 108

Plants and habitat of Phreatia elegans. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Fig. 109

Flowers of Thelasis pygmaea. (By Xiaohua Jin)

Flowering time: July–August

Habitat: Rain forests; ca. 1100 m

Conservation status: DD

Distribution: Yunnan Province; India and Indonesia

Phreatia formosana Rolfe ex Hemsl. (Figs. 110 and 111)

Description: Stems tufted, very short, not pseudobulbous, enclosed in leaf sheaths. Leaves subbasal, 4–6, distichous on short stem; leaf blade linear, 2.5–9 cm long, 2.5–6.5 cm wide. Inflorescence axillary, erect, 6–7 cm long, with 3 ovate-lanceolate sheaths below middle; rachis 2–5 cm long, many flowered; floral bracts subovate, 1–1.5 mm long. Flowers white or greenish white, ca. 2 mm in diam. Dorsal sepal elliptic-ovate, ca. 1.5 mm long, 1 mm wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-triangular, ca. 1.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, adnate to column foot and forming a mentum. Petals subelliptic, ca. 1 mm long, 0.6 mm wide. Lip suboblate, ca. 1 mm long, 1.3 mm wide, base with a short claw and slightly saccate. Column short, foot distinct.

Fig. 110

Phreatia formosana. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Fig. 111

Flowers of Phreatia formosana. (By Mingzhong Huang)

Flowering time: August

Habitat: Trees in forests; 800–1800 m

Conservation status: VU

Distribution: Taiwan, Yunnan and Hainan Province; Vietnam and Thailand