Volume 12 > Part 1 > Year 2011 > Page 34 > Orchidaceae > Cheirostylis

4. Cheirostylis octodactyla Ames

Philipp. J. Sci., C. Bot. 2: 314. 1907; S.C.Chen et al, in Z.Y. Wu et al. (eds), Fl. China 25: 59. 2009; H.A.Pedersen & Suksathan, Taiwania 54: 317, fig. 1. 2009. Fig. 16.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Flowering shoots 3.5–9 cm tall. Foliage leaves 4–8, scattered along the stem, dull green above, paler underneath; lamina ovate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, often minutely mucronate, 0.5–2.5 by 0.4–1.4 cm (lamina of longest leaf 1.2–2.5 cm long). Inflorescence glabrous; rachis up to 0.5 cm long, 1- to 2-flowered; bracts lanceolate, acute, 1-veined, glabrous, 7–11 by 2–2.7 mm. Flowers subsessile, white. Synsepal glabrous, ca 11.5 mm long. Petals adnate to the synsepal in their whole length (their recurved apices protruding from its lateral sinuses), obliquely (ob)lanceolate, obtuse, ca 12.2 by ca 3.1 mm. Labellum ca 8.2 mm long along the midline; hypochile inside with a longitudinal row of 15–20 papilla-like appendages on either side; epichile transversely elliptic, coarsely 7-to 8-dentate, ca 3.4 by ca 5.2 mm (to apices of teeth). Column ca 5.2 mm long; stylids linear, subequal to the rostellum; anther acuminate in front, ca 1 mm long. Ovary glabrous, 8–10 mm long. Capsule not seen.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Phitsanulok (Phu Soi Dao – Suksathan 4623 -QBG).

Distribution : Vietnam, the Philippines (type), Taiwan.

Ecology : Terrestrial on humus-rich ground in hill evergreen forests; ca 1,800 m alt. Flowering: September.

Notes: The recently described Cheirostylis pingbianensis K.Y.Lang from Yunnan (Lang 1996) seems only doubtfully distinct from C. octodactyla, and the range of variation in both taxa should be studied further.