Calanthe densiflora - Dense-Flowered Calanthe

Dense-Flowered Calanthe is a medium to just large sized terrestrial orchid with a wavy, spindle-shaped, fibrous rhizome with roots widely spaced, giving rise to 2 to 3, pleated, prominently 5 veined below, narrowly elliptic to oblong-elliptic, pointed to tapering, narrowing into the grooved stalked base leaves. The plant blooms in the fall arising from the tip of the rhizome, in short, spherical-corymb-like to cylindric, 10-21 cm long, densely many flowered inflorescence enveloped by tubular, inflated, avate, pointed sheaths and carrying cauducous, elliptic-lanceshaped, pointed floral bracts. Flowers are 2 cm across, arranged in a dense head, pale yellow, turning black when dried. Flower-stalks and ovary are about 2 cm, hairless. Sepals are similar, oblong, 13-14 x about 5 mm, 3-5-veined, tip aristate. Petals are somewhat spoon-shaped, 1.3-1.4 cm x about 4 mm, 3-veined, tip pointed; lip adnate to base of column wings, ovate-round, 7-11 x 5-11 mm, 3-lobed above middle; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, about 5 x 3 mm, about 1 cm across their tips, tip blunt; mid-lobe subsquare, about 5 × 4 mm, tip notched. Spur is straight, cylindric, 1.2-1.6 cm x about 3 mm, tip blunt. Column is arcuate, about 1.2 cm, slender, base dilated. Dense-Flowered Calanthe is found in East Himalaya to China and SE Asia, at altitudes of 1000-3000 m. Flowering: August-September.