Cypripedium himalaicum Rolfe J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29: 319. 1892.

高山杓兰 gao shan shao lan

Cypripedium macranthos Swartz var. himalaicum (Rolfe) Kraenzlin.

Plants 25-28 cm tall, with a relatively slender rhizome. Stem erect, sparsely pubescent, with several sheaths at base and 3 leaves above. Leaf blade oblong-elliptic to broadly elliptic, 5-10 × 2.5-4 cm, both surfaces glabrous or slightly hairy, ciliate, apex acute. Inflorescence terminal, with 1 flower; peduncle ± pubescent, especially in upper part; floral bracts foliaceous, narrowly elliptic to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 3-5 × 0.6-1.2 cm, abaxial veins ± hairy, apex acuminate; pedicel and ovary 1.8-2.2 cm, densely pubescent. Flowers fragrant, whitish or greenish yellow, densely marked with purplish brown longitudinal stripes. Dorsal sepal broadly elliptic or broadly ovate, 2.4-2.7 × 1.8-2.1 cm, slightly concave, apex acute; synsepal narrowly oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 1.8-2.2 × 1.1-1.2 cm, concave, apex shallowly 2-lobed. Petals narrowly oblong or linear-lanceolate, 2.3-3.4 × 0.6-0.7 cm, villous toward adaxial base, apex acute; lip deeply pouched, slightly bilaterally compressed, subellipsoid, 2.3-2.8 cm, with a small mouth and a toothed margin around it, inner bottom hairy. Staminode broadly ovate-cordate, ca. 7 × 5-6 mm, base with a very short stalk. Fl. Jun-Jul. 2n = 20.

Grasslands in forests, forest margins, open rocky slopes; 3600-4000 m. S and SE Xizang [Bhutan, N India, Nepal].