Chamaegastrodia vaginata (Hook.f.) Seidenf. 1994Drawing by © Hooker's Icones Vol 22

Common Name The Sheathed Chamaegastrodia - In China Ji Chun Die Qiao Lan

Flower Size

Found in Hubei and Sichuan provinces of China, Assam and Sikkim in montane forests at elevations around 1000 to 1600 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing terrestrial with a stout, fleshy rhizome giving rise to an erect, deep red, somewhat slender stem carrying many, almost completely enveloping the stem, dark red, tubular, acute, loose sheaths without leaves that blooms in the later summer on an erect, peduncle .8 to 1.2" [2 to 3 cm] long, rachis .8 to 1.2" [2 to 3 cm] long, 4 flowered inflorescence with similar, dark red, as long as the ovary floral bracts and carrying deep red flowers that are usually fragrant.

Synonyms Aphyllorchis vaginata Hook.f. 1890; Chamaegastrodia exigua (Rolfe) F.Maek. 1971; Evrardianthe exigua (Rolfe) Rauschert 1983; Hetaeria exigua (Rolfe) Schltr. 1919; Spiranthes exigua Rolfe 1896

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Vol 22 1894 Hooker as Aphyllorchis vaginata drawing fide; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965 as Spirathes exigua; Flora of China Vol 25 Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2009;

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