Thrixspermum saruwatarii - Arunachal Hairseed Orchid

Arunachal Hairseed Orchid is a miniature sized, tree-dwelling orchid with an erect to rising up stem carrying nearly basal, narrowly oblong to linear-inverted-lanceshaped, leathery, pointed, sometimes unequally bilobed apically leaves. The plant blooms in the spring on a usually drooping, 5-8 cm long, 3-8 flowered inflorescence with the axis being slightly flexuous and thickened and has non-distichous, ovate-triangular, pointed floral bracts. Flowers open simultaneously, lasting about 1 week, well spaced, white or rarely yellowish, sometimes tinged with purple, lip lateral lobes brownish striped, mid-lobe brownish orange, above column foot with brown blotches. Flower-stalk and ovary are 4-6 mm. Dorsal sepal is oblong, 7-8 x 3-5 mm, blunt; lateral sepals slightly oblique, obovate, 7-8 x 3-5 mm, pointed. Petals are linear, sickle shaped, 5-6 x about 2 mm, blunt. Lip is small, base shallowly saccate, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, sickle shaped, about 3 mm; mid-lobe triangular, very small, fleshy. Arunachal Hairseed Orchid is found in Arunachal Pradesh and Taiwan. Flowering: March-April.