Biermannia calcarata

 Biermannia calcarata Aver.  

Biermannia calcarata Aver.; All photos © L. Averyanov

1988, Bot. Journ. (Leningrad) 73, 3: 429; Seidenf., 1992, Opera Bot. 114: 433: Aver., 1994, Ident. Guide Vietnam. Orch.: 357; Aver. & Averyanova, 2003, Updated Checkl. Orch. Vietnam: 12; Soejarto et al., 2004, Seed plants CPNP: 445.

Studied collections.

14 Aug. 1999, NM.Cuong, XMC g66; 12Dec.1999, X.T.Hiep etal., XTH4103.

Description. 

Small canopy epiphyte with 3—5 leaves on a short stem. Leaves oblong, fleshy, oblique, 3—6(9) by 0.8—1.4 cm, unequally bilobed at apex. Inflorescence 5—7 mm long, with fleshy rachis and small distichous floral bracts. Flowers 3—6, white to light yellowish, odorless, hardly opening, developing successively and lasting for only a few morning hours. Sepals and petals sub­ similar in shape, 6—9 mm long, broadly lanceolate; sepals keeled, mucronate with the reflexed mucro about 1 mm long; petals obtuse. Lip 5—7 mm long, 3-lobed, with a short spur at the base, 1—2 mm long; side-lobes small, erect, rounded; mid-lobe fleshy, conical, obtuse, at the base with 2 fleshy low keels. Column 2 mm tall, with a short column foot. Fruit cylindric winged capsule, about 3 by 0.4 cm.

Flowering time. 

May-July.

Geographic range. 

Endemic of Vietnam.

Notes. 

This tiny plant with small unattractive short lived flowers is easily overlooked in botanical studies and collecting. The species probably has a wide distribution in the lowlands of northern Vietnam. In some places it is rather common.

References:

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