Amitostigma physoceras Schlechter, Acta Horti Gothob. 1: 133. 1924.球距无柱兰 qiu ju wu zhu lan

Orchis physoceras (Schlechter) Soó.

Plants 6-11 cm tall. Tubers subglobose, ca. 10 mm in diam. Stem 2-leaved. Leaves basal, subopposite, usually appressed to substratum, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1-2 × 0.7-1.4 cm, apex acute to subacuminate. Peduncle ebracteate; rachis to 6 cm, subdensely 3-10-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate, much shorter than ovary, apex acuminate. Flowers secund, pinkish purple; ovary and pedicel 5-9 mm. Dorsal sepal erect, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, concave, ca. 5 × 2 mm, 1-veined, apex acuminate; lateral sepals reflexed, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, slightly oblique, concave, ca. 5 × 2 mm, 1-veined, apex acuminate. Petals ovate-lanceolate, ca. 5 × 3 mm, 1-veined, apex acute; lip ovate, ca. 9 × 7-8 mm, base broadly cuneate, deeply 3-lobed; disk finely papillate; lateral lobes slightly diverging, obovate-subrhombic, oblique, ca. 3 mm, apical margin subcrenulate, apex obtuse; mid-lobe suborbicular-obovate, ca. 5 × 4 mm, margin irregularly denticulate, apex obtuse; spur pendulous, with a short, contracted neck and then dilated and globose, ca. 3 mm, much shorter than ovary; viscidia elliptic; stigma lobes clavate. Fl. Jul-Aug.

● Forests, damp places along cliffs, valleys; 2000-2700 m. NW and W Sichuan.