Calanthe mannii - Dwarf Calanthe

Dwarf Calanthe is a small to just medium sized, terrestrial orchid with short, cylindric pseudobulbs carrying 4 to 5, narrowly elliptic-oblong to inverted-lanceshaped-oblong, pointed to nearlypointed, pleated, 5 nerved leaved which gradually narrow below into the stalked base. The plant blooms in the spring on a branch-end, laxly 10-20 flowered, velvet-hairy inflorescence 27-56 cm long, with hairless, small, lanceshaped, pointed floral bracts. Flowers are small, dark brown, with golden yellow lip. Sepals are similar, ovate-lanceshaped or oblong, concave, 7-9 x 2.5-4.5 mm. Petals are obovate-lanceshaped or oblong, 6-7 x 1.2-2 mm. Lip is adnate to entire length of column wings, 3-4.5 x 2.5-3 mm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ovate, oblique, 1.5-2 x 1-1.5 mm, tip blunt-rounded; mid-lobe transversely oblong or nearly kidney-shaped, 1.5-2 x 2.5-3 mm, margin slightly wavy, tip notched and with a short sharp point in sinus. Spur is straight, 1-3 x about 1 mm. Dwarf Calanthe is found in the Himalayas to S. China, Japan. Flowering: May.