Anoectochilus roxburghii

Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl.

Anoectochilus roxburghii; All photos © L. Averyanov & K.S. Nguyen 

1S32, Number. List: no 7387: Gagnep., 1933, in Lecomte, FI. Gen. Indochine 6: 569: 1992, Seidenf., Opera Bot. 114: 31; P. H. Ho, 1993, 111. FI. Vietnam 3, 2: 973, f. 9858; Aver. & Averyanova, 2003, Updated Checkl. Orch. Vietnam: 11: Soejarto et al., 2004, Seed plants CPNP: 445.

Synonyms.

Chrysobaphus roxburghii Wall., 1826, Tent. Fl. Nepal.: 37.

Anoectochilus setaceous auct. non Blume, 1S25: Aver., 1994, in Ident. Guide Vietnam. Orch.: 46.

Studied collections. 11 Sept. 1999, NA'I.Cuong et al., NMC518; 17 Sept. 1999, N.M.Cuong et al., NMC520.

Description. 

Creeping terrestrial herb with ascending stem and terminal inflorescence to 15 cm tall. Leaves 2—4, petiolate, ovate, acute, 3—5 by 2—3.5 cm, deep velvety green to green-brown with highly contrasting pink or yellow reticulate nerves, sometime light emerald-green along mid­ vein. Inflorescence leafless, glandular pubescent, lax raceme with 3—10 flowers. Flowers 1.5 cm across. Sepals light pink-brown, densely glandular pubescent outside, 7—9 mm long; dorsal sepal ovate, acuminate; lateral sepals oblong, acute with oblique base. Petals whitish, membranaceous, 6- -8 mm long, obliquely oblanceolate, attenuate, connivent and forming a hood with the dorsal sepal. Lip white, 1.2—1.8 mm long, at the base with large spur turned forward; spur inside with 2 large warty glands; mesochile narrow, with numerous long fringes along margin, bent at a right angle to the spur; epichile bilobed, with reflexed linear-oblong obtuse lobes. Column stout, with 2 large basal appendages, 2—4 mm long. Fruit ellipsoid capsule, 1.5 by 0.5—0.6 cm. Plate 1 (5): Plate 2 (6-8).

Flowering time. 

November-December.

Geographic range. 

Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, S. China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.

Notes. 

The plant is typical shady-loving element of forest understory. Handsome deep colored velvety leaves with reticulate pink or golden nerves are very characteristic and easily distinguish this plant. The species is widely collected for traditional Chinese medicine and as an ornamental plant known under common name - "jewel orchids".

Widespread species, which nevertheless needs special attention for protection particularly with in national park.

References:

Leonid V. Averyanov, Nguyen Tien Hiep, Phan Ke Loc, The orchids Of Cuc Phuong National Park Illustrated guide, ISBN: 9781626751514