FLORA OF VIETNAM

Fam. Orchidaceae

Gastrochilus bellinus (Reichenb.f.) Kuentze

Vietnam, Thanh Hoa Prov., Muong Lat Distr. at elev. about 600-800 m a.s.l. Broad-leaved evergreen lowland forest on slopes of remnant mountains composed with solid highly eroded crystalline limestone. Epiphyte. Flowers with unpleasant smell of decaying protein. Sepals and petals dark olive-green with numerous deep purple-brown spots; lip white (hypochile with light green tint) with brown-purple spots; operculum very light yellow heavily brown-purple spotted at the base; ovary deep green with purple-brown tint, purple-brown spotted at the base. Very rare.

No HAL 6387 23 February 2005. Photo (flowered in Hanoi).

Collectors: L.Averyanov, P.K.Loc.

All photos © - L. Averyanov