Cylindrolobus Blume, Mus. Bot. Lugd. 2: 182 (1856).
By: Devendra M. Bajracharya
Taxon Description
Plants epiphytic or rarely terrestrial Herbs. Pseudobulbs elongated, stem-like, with internodes, cylindrical or slightly clavate, sheathed. Rhizomes condensed, confined to the base of pseudobulbs. Leaves alternate, conduplicate, linear-oblanceolate, narrowly elliptic, or narrowly ovate, leathery, articulate to a sheathing leaf base tightly enveloping stem. inflorescence l or 2(–3) flowered; lateral or axillary, arising from terminal node of stem, short, floral bracts large, petaloid; peduncle usually very much reduced. Flowers in pairs, mostly white or cream-colored, with pedicelled flowers, pedicel and ovary glabrous. Sepals sub similar, free, often recurved; forming with column foot a blunt, oblique mentum. Petals free, smaller than sepals. Lip 3-lobed, without callus and powdery median band, usually with glabrous; mid-lobe smaller than side- lobes, with smooth longitudinal keels. Capsules ovate, shortly pedicilate.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 70 species, distributed in S. China to tropical Asia and SE Asia. One species in Nepal.
1. Cylindrolobus biflorus (Griff.) Rauschert, Feddes Repert. 94 (7-8): 445 (1983).
Eria biflora Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3: 302 (1851).
Plants epiphytic, 15–20 cm tall. Pseudobulbs 6–12 cm, clustered, stem-like, sheathed. Leaves 3-5, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or ovate, 4–6 x 0.5–0.9 cm, acute, entire, petiole grooved 2–4 cm. Inflorescence several, arising from a cavity on nodes all along the pseudobulbs axillary, 2- or 3- flowered, peduncles 6–8 mm long, cylindrical, almost glabrous to very sparsely pubescent. rachis compressed, slightly pubescent. Floral bract elliptic, 4–6 x 2–4 mm, acute. Flower in pair, 3 cm wide, pale yellow or yellowish white, 2–3 cm, lip darker yellow, glabrous. Pedicel and ovary 2–4 mm, pubescent. Sepals sub similar. Dorsal sepal narrowly elliptic, 3–6 x 2–3 mm long, acute. Lateral sepals 5—6 x 4 mm, ovate, falcate, obtuse, triangular mentum, 1–1.5 mm long, Petals oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, 2–3 x 1.5 mm, obtuse. Lip entire to obscurely 3-lobed, ovate-oblong to sub-pandurate in outline, 2–4 x 0.3 mm; mid- lobe oblong, obtuse, blunt, emarginate, margin papillose; disk with 3 callus, a central callus starting at the base of the lip to near apex; lateral lobes short to obscure, incurved. Column 1–1.5 mm long. Capsules shortly pedicilate, ovate.
Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 350-500 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on moss covered tree trunks in tropical and sub-tropical forests.
Flowering: September – November.