Oberonia variabilis Kerr Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew. 1927: 214. 1927.

密苞鸢尾兰 mi bao yuan wei lan

Stem very short or inconspicuous. Leaves subbasal, 3-5, distichous-equitant, laterally compressed, linear, straight or slightly falcate, 2.5-7 × 0.4-1 cm, veins obscure, base not articulate, margin often crisped when dried, apex acuminate or acute. Peduncle subterete, 6-10 cm, wingless, lower part often with many whorled sterile bracts; sterile bracts lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm, aristate; rachis 4-7 cm, 2-2.5 mm in diam., many flowered; floral bracts narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm, apex long acuminate. Flowers ± whorled, green; pedicel and ovary ca. 1 mm, conspicuously shorter than floral bracts. Sepals ovate, ca. 0.8 × 0.5 mm, apex obtuse. Petals suboblong, ca. 1 × 0.4 mm; lip broadly oblong-ovate in outline, ca. 0.8 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subovate-oblong, ca. 0.2 mm, conspicuously smaller than mid-lobe, margin inconspicuously erose or nearly entire; mid-lobe subquadrate or broadly oblong, apex irregularly incised. Column erect, short, stout. Capsule obovoid-ellipsoid, 1.5-2.5 × 1.2-1.8 mm; fruiting pedicel ca. 1 mm. Fl. and fr. Jan-Apr.

Epiphytic on trees. SE Hainan [Thailand, Vietnam].