Volume 12 > Part 2 > Year 2014 > Page 557 > Orchidaceae > Nervilia

2. Nervilia crociformis (Zoll. & Moritzi) Seidenf.wfo-0000251657

Dansk. Bot. Ark. 32(2): 151, fig. 92. 1978; N.Pearce & P.J.Cribb, Fl. Bhutan 3(3): 57. 2002; S.C.Chen & S. W. Gale in Z. Wu et al. (eds), Fl. China 25: 199. 2009.— Bolborchis crociformis Zoll. & Moritzi, Syst. Verz. Zoll. Pfl.: 89. 1846. Fig. 302; Plate XLVII: 4–5.

Accepted Name : Nervilia simplex (Thouars) Schltr.
Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45: 401. 1911.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Tuber yellowish-white, 5.8–14.2 mm in diameter, 3- to 5-noded. Leaf lamina flush with ground level or held a short way above, dull green above, pale green beneath, reniform, 2.3–5.9 by 3.4–7.6 cm, membranous, sparsely setulose above, glabrous beneath, 5-, 7-, 9- or 11-veined, base cordate, apex rounded; petiole-like stalk erect, pale green, 1.5–3.5 cm long, ca 2 mm in diameter. Inflorescence 5–9.5 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle greenish-beige, ca 1.5 mm in diameter, bearing 2 tubular sheaths; floral bract erect, linear-lanceolate, 2.8–8.2 by 0.5–0.8 mm. Flower erect, not resupinate, opening widely; pedicel 1.5–3 mm long; ovary 3.5–5.9 mm long. Sepals and petals pale yellowish-green or whitish-beige, sometimes with purple venation, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 3-veined, apex acute; sepals 13.5–23.1 by 2.2–4 mm; petals slightly falcate, 12–18 by 2–3 mm. Labellum white flushed pink, lavender or magenta at the apex, sometimes with a patch of yellow or orange at the centre, obovate-flabelliform, 12.4–16.8 by 8–12.2 mm, 3-lobed above the middle; lateral lobes loosely embracing the column, ovate triangular, 2–3.2 by 2.5–2.8 mm, apices rounded-obtuse; mid-lobe sub-quadrate to broadly elliptic, 4–5.5 by 6–7.4 mm, margin irregularly fimbriate; labellum ornamented by sparse lanate hairs along the main veins on lateral lobes and (more densely) towards the apex of the mid lobe. Column white, sometimes tinged mauve, straight, 4.6–8.2 mm long; anther 1.5–2.8 mm in diameter; pollinia ca 1 mm long; rostellum protruding; stigma shield-shaped. Capsule ellipsoid, ca 11 mm long, ca 6.5 mm in diameter.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao (Doi Luang NP), Lamphun (Doi Khun Tan NP), Lampang (Chae Son NP), Tak (Ban Musoe); NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Phu Luang WS); EASTERN: Ubon Rachathani.

Distribution : Tropical and southern Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar and Réunion, NE India, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia (type), Papua New Guinea, N Australia, W & SW Pacific Islands.

Ecology : Terrestrial growing in leaf litter over shale, limestone or granite bedrock in degraded or fire-damaged mixed deciduous or evergreen forests and in bamboo brakes, 400–1,600 m alt. Flowering: February–June, leaf present June–November.

Vernacular : Ueang bai bua bok (เอื้องใบบัวบก)(Northern); ueang din bai bua (เอื้องดินใบบัว); di-boi-lao (ดีบอยเลา)(Lawa-Chiang Mai).

Notes: Pettersson (1991) found African and Asian material to be conspecific, and recognised one widespread and variable taxon; refer to his treatment for African synonymy. Even within Asia, plants exhibit considerable variation. Although Thai plants possess a labellum with distinct, rounded side lobes, elsewhere in SE Asia plants may lack side lobes altogether. Leaf shape and indumentum are also variable, and the leaf of Taiwanese plants has glistening white reticulate venation (Chen & Gale, 2009). This complex requires further investigation and may yet be found to encompass cryptic taxa.