| English Name | Monteiro's Caterpillar Orchid, Monteiroi's Orchid |
|---|---|
| Status in China | Critically Endangered (CR) |
Description:
Terrestrial orchids; rhizomes lotus root-like, olive-green, with 4-6 nodes. Leaves 2-3; petioles purple-green; leaf blade ovate, dark green, 12-16 mm long, base subcordate. Scape 7-9 cm long. Racemes 2-3-flowered. Sepals lower 2/3 connated into a tube; lobes 2 mm long. Petals white, oblanceolate, 5 mm long; lip adnate to the base of column, 11.5 mm long, base saccate, in the sac with a bifid callus on each side, clawed at middle, the front enlarged portion subrounded, 7 mm in diam., bilobed, margine 5-8 filiform laciniate; anther sagittate.
Distribution:
Endemic to Hong Kong, only known from Mount Violet and Mount Parker.
Habitat and Ecology:
On rocks covered with litter under forest, alt. ca.300 m. Flowering: Mar.-May.
It is endemic to Hong Kong and has restricted dsitribution with very small population size. Type specimen was collected from Mount Violet. The localities of its occurrence are in Country Parks under protection. This species is also protected by the Forestry Regulations (Cap. 96 sub. leg.) and the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586).
References:
Hu, S. Y. & G. D. Barretto, 1976: New Species and Varities of Orchidaceae from Hong Kong. Chung Chi Journal 13(2): 15，fig. 7.
郎楷永, 1999：中國植物誌17：169。科學出版社，北京。
