Fragrant Calanthe is a terrestrial orchid 25-50 cm
tall. Pseudobulbs are subconic, about 5 mm in diameter, with 2 or 3
sheaths. Leaves are 2 or 3, not well developed at flowering time, not
deciduous. Blade is elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 12-14 x 3-4 cm,
tip long-pointed, stalk-like base short, often forming a pseudostem
about 5 cm. Flower stem arising from previous year’s leafless
pseudobulb, erect, rachis 2-5 cm, densely few to many flowered. Floral
bracts are persistent, ovate-lanceshaped, about 8 mm. Flowers are
white, stalk and ovary 1.0-1.4 cm long. Sepals are similar,
ovate-elliptic, 9-11 x 4-5 mm, 5-veined, tip pointed. Petals are
somewhat spoon-shaped, 9-11 x 3-5 mm, 3-veined, tip flat and slightly
mucronate. Lip is adnate to entire length of column wings, 8-10 x 6-8
mm, deeply 3-lobed; lateral lobes are suboblong or obliquely ovate;
mid-lobe somewhat kidney-shaped, divided by a deep triangular sinus
into 2 lobules, apiculate in sinus; lobules divergent, subobovate; disk
with a semicircular cluster of many tuberous, wartlike calli at base.
Spur is straight, cylindric, 7-8 mm. Column is about 3 mm, dilated
toward apex; rostellum 2-lobed, lobes about 1.2 mm. Fragrant Calanthe
is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Laos, N Thailand,
Vietnam, at altitudes of 700-1300 m. Flowering: May-July.
Identification credit: Pankaj Kumar
Photographed in Imphal, Manipur.
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The flower labeled Fragrant Calanthe is ...