Calanthe nankunensis Z. H. Tsi Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 507. 1981.

南昆虾脊兰 nan kun xia ji lan

Plants ca. 50 cm tall. Pseudobulbs subglobose, small, ca. 1 cm in diam., with 3 sheaths. Leaves 2, not well developed at anthesis, not deciduous; blade elliptic, 21-25 × ca. 10 cm, abaxially densely puberulent, apex acuminate or acute; petiole-like base ca. 20 cm, usually forming a pseudostem ca. 10 cm. Scape arising from leaf axil, to 55 cm, densely puberulent; rachis ca. 10 cm, laxly 6- or 7-flowered; floral bracts persistent, narrowly lanceolate, 4-5 mm, sparsely puberulent. Flowers white; pedicel and ovary ca. 16 mm, puberulent. Dorsal sepal oblong, 15-18 × ca. 6 mm, abaxially puberulent, 5-veined, apex aristate; lateral sepals oblong, slightly oblique, 15-18 × ca. 6 mm, abaxially puberulent, 5-veined, apex acuminate and aristate. Petals narrowly oblong, 14-16 × 3.2-4 mm, glabrous, 3-veined, apex acuminate and aristate; lip adnate to entire length of column wings, ca. 11 × 9 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subfalcate-oblong, ca. 3.5 × 2 mm, 6-7 mm across their apices, apex obliquely truncate; mid-lobe obovate, ca. 7 × 8 mm, base clawed, margin slightly erose, apex emarginate and apiculate in sinus; disk with 3 ridges and with a fleshy triangular appendage near mouth of spur; central ridge extending to apex of mid-lobe; spur strongly curved near apex, 8-9 mm, outside sparsely puberulent. Column ca. 5 mm, dilated at apex, puberulent, wings decurrent to lip; rostellum 2-lobed; lobes ca. 1 mm; anther cap beaked; pollinia narrowly ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm; viscidium narrowly oblong, ca. 1 mm. Fl. Apr.

● Shaded places along valleys. S Guangdong.