Spathoglottis ixioides (D. Don) Lindley Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 120. 1831.

少花苞舌兰 shao hua bao she lan

Cymbidium ixioides D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 36. 1825.

Pseudobulbs subglobose, usually 0.5-1 cm in diam., with 2 or 3 leaves. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, 6-12 × 0.3-1.1 cm, base acute, petiole-like stalk 1-2 cm, sheathing; leaf base usually forming a pseudostem, sheathing at base. Inflorescence 8-13 cm, slender, with 2 tubular sheaths at base, sparsely pubescent; rachis short, ca. 1 cm, 1- or 2-flowered; floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca. 8 mm, sparsely pubescent, apex acute. Flowers yellow; pedicel and ovary 15-20 mm, densely villous. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 18-22 × 8-10 mm, 5- or 6-veined, outer surface sparsely villous, apex acute; lateral sepals ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 15-20 × 5-9 mm, outer surface sparsely villous. Petals 7-veined, apex subobtuse; lip erect, 14-18 mm, saccate at base, 3-lobed, with 2 acute auricles at base of claw; disk with 1 keel; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, shallowly incised, apex obtuse; mid-lobe obovate, ca. 8 × 6 mm, with a short claw at base, apex subtruncate; disk with a low, central ridge running from middle of claw to midway along mid-lobe; keel arising from base of lip, usually densely pubescent, dividing before claw into 2 large, fleshy, rounded-obtuse extensions and terminating at base of mid-lobe. Column 1-1.7 cm. Fl. Aug-Sep.

Rocky slopes; 2300-2800 m. S Xizang [Bhutan, India (Sikkim), Nepal].