Phaius flavus - Yellow Crane Orchid

Yellow Crane Orchid is a medium sized, terrestrial orchid with conical to ovoid-cylindric pseudobulbs carrying 3-8, elliptic-lanceshaped, tapering, pleated, yellow to white spotted leaves. The plant blooms in the winter and spring on a up to 90 cm tall, erect, basal, laxly several to many flowered inflorescences with persistent bracts and several to many, yellow, long lived, fragrant flowers. Flowers are large, showy 4-7 cm long. Sepals are almost simillar, spreading, concave, 2.5-4 x .8-1.5 cm; dorsal sepal oblong elliptic, spoon-shaped, blunt to nearly pointed, 2.5-4 x .8-1.5 cm. Lip is 3 lobed, spurred, erect, 2.5-4.5 x 2.5-4.5 cm; lateral lobes erect, enfolding the column, oblong blunt; mid rib ovate to sub round, slightly deflexed in front, margins crisped wavy; disc with 3 prominent keels; spur conical, 5-8 mm long. Column is erect, curved, velvet-hairy, 1.5-2 cm long. Yellow Crane Orchid is found in Tropical & Subtropical Asia, including the Himalayas, at altitudes of 300-2000 m. Flowering: April-October.