蛤兰属 ge lan shu

Authors:Authors: Xinqi Chen, Yi-Bo Luo & Jeffrey J. Wood

Herbs, dwarf, caespitose, epiphytic or lithophytic, often forming mats on substrate. Rhizome creeping. Pseudobulb of 1 internode, globose, discoid, or oblong, strongly depressed, reticulate or not. Leaves 1-4, inserted at top of pseudobulbs, obovate-lanceolate, subsessile, petiole tapering, articulate. Inflorescence terminal, solitary, elongate, hysteranthous, proteranthous, or synanthous, 1- or a few flowered; peduncle filiform; floral bracts hooded, membranous. Flower white, pale green, or yellow. Dorsal sepal triangular, acuminate; lateral sepals obliquely triangular or lanceolate, acuminate, forming a distinct mentum with column foot. Petals obovate-lanceolate or oblong, acuminate or obtuse; lip entire or 3-lobed, with a claw, simple or adorned with ridges. Column with a curving foot; pollinia 8, compressed, ovoid; rostellum truncate, almost square in outline.

About ten species: Bhutan, S China, N India, S Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam; four species (one endemic) in China.