Cymbidium defoliatum Y. S. Wu & S. C. Chen Acta Phytotax. Sin. 29: 549. 1991.

落叶兰 luo ye lan

Plants terrestrial, autotrophic. Pseudobulbs very small, often borne in a row and somewhat rhizomelike, with several thickened roots to 5-8 mm in diam. at base. Leaves 2-4, lorate, deciduous in winter (but often not completely deciduous in cultivation), emerging in spring, only terminal pseudobulb with leaves during growing period, (10-)25-40 × 0.5-1 cm, inconspicuously articulate toward base, apex subobtuse. Inflorescence arising from base of pseudobulb, erect, 10-20 cm; rachis 3- or 4-flowered; floral bracts sublinear-lanceolate, mostly 5-6 mm, though basal one to 10 mm. Flowers fragrant, small, 2-3 cm in diam., very variable in color, greenish white, pale green, pale red, pale yellow, or pale purple; pedicel and ovary 13-17 mm. Sepals narrowly oblong, 12-20 × 3-6 mm, usually 5-veined, apex acute; lateral sepals spreading horizontally. Petals loosely clasping column, narrowly ovate, 10-16 × 2.5-5 mm; lip suboblong-ovate, 10-12 mm, not fused to basal margins of column, obscurely 3-lobed; lateral lobes incurved, small, narrow; mid-lobe recurved, suborbicular, 3-4 × 3-4 mm; disk with 2 longitudinal lamellae extending from near center of lip to base of mid-lobe, ca. 3 mm. Column 7-8 mm; pollinia 4, in 2 pairs. Fl. Jun-Aug.

● N Fujian, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan.

This species is often cultivated in orchid greenhouses. It was reported to be found in Zhejiang, but no specimen has been seen.This species is often cultivated in orchid greenhouses. It was reported to be found in Zhejiang, but no specimen has been seen.