FLORA OF VIETNAM

Fam. Orchidaceae

Phalaenopsis braceana (Hook.f.) Christenson

N. Vietnam, Ha Giang prov., Quan Ba distr., Can Ti municipality, vicinities of Sing Xuoi Ho village (N 23є04' E 104є59'), 26.2 km to 002є of Ha Giang city. Primary closed evergreen mixed wet mossy forest (with Cupressus, Taxus, Nagea and Pseoudotsuga) along tops of karst remnant limestone ridge at elev. 1100-1150 m a.s.l. Epiphyte. Rare.

Flowered in cultivation in June-July 2001. Flowers odorless; sepals and lateral petals yellow-brown, warty outside, brown-chocolate inside; lip white, light brown-yellowish at the base; midlobe deep purple-violet, striped with white; side lobes white, yellow at the base, with violet tint at the apex; column light violet; anther cup white. pollinia brightly yellow. Scape and flower bracts dull green mottled with dirty-purple, pedicell and ovary green flushed with purple.

No NTH 3590/a 12 Oct. 1999

Collectors: N.T. Hiep, N.Q. Binh, L. Averyanov, P. Cribb.