Spathoglottis plicata Blume Bijdr. 401. 1825.

紫花苞舌兰 zi hua bao she lan

Pseudobulbs ovoid-conic, ca. 3 × 1-1.7 cm, ± enclosed in sheaths, with 3-5 leaves. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, 30-80 × 5-7 cm, petiole-like stalk 10-20 cm. Inflorescence to 100 cm, with many tubular sheaths; rachis 8-15 cm, 9-16-flowered; floral bracts reflexed, purple, ovate, ca. 1.5 cm. Flowers opening successively, purple; pedicel and ovary purplish, 25-35 mm. Sepals ovate, concave, 15-17 × ca. 9 mm, sparsely pubescent, apex acute; lateral sepals oblique. Petals subelliptic, ca. 18 × 13 mm, apex acute; lip 3-lobed, 16-23 mm, with 2 small, triangular, pubescent auricles at base of claw; disk with 2 short keels arising from base of lip; lateral lobes falcate, ca. 6 × 3 mm, apex dilated and truncate; mid-lobe dilated toward apex and flabellate, ca. 10 mm, apex subtruncate and often shallowly 2-lobed, with a distinct claw at base; claw and lower part of lip sometimes yellow; keels expanded toward apex into 2 large, fleshy, erect, rounded extensions terminating near base of claw, extensions pubescent adaxially. Column ca. 1.5 cm. Fl. Jan-Dec. 2n = 40, 42, 60.

Sunny places at forest margins, grassy slopes. S Taiwan [S India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia, Pacific islands].