Finding
SITF has determined this plant to be Calanthe sylvatica, not Calanthe sinica (Oct 2026). Using the key in Flora of China, this plant keys to C. sylvatica. The plant is not deciduous. The floral bracts are persistent. The lip is spurred and trilobed. The lip crest is adorned with wartlike structures and is mucronate. The flowers are pinkish or purple. The most important characteristics are the densely pubescent leaves and the length of the spur. There is no evidence of pubescence in the foliage. The length of the spur is listed as 1.9cm. The lip measurements noted in the key is 1.1cm to 1.7cm for C. sylvatica and <0.9 cm for C. sinica. Based on the length of the spur and no pubescence, as well as the other key characteristics, this is C. sylvatica.
Overall Length Of Growth Cane: 19.0
Number Of Leaves Per Growth Or Cane: 5
Leaf Length: 19.0
Leaf Width: 8.3
Leaf Shape: Elliptic
Leaf Petiole Length: sessile;N/A
Pseudobulb Length: Not Measureable - inacceassible
Pseudobulb Width: Not Measureable - inacceassible
Pseudobulb Distance: 0.2
Pseudobulb Root Tip: Not visible
Inflorescence Overall Length: 72.0
Inflorescence Arrangement: racemous
Inflorescence Dist Base To Bud: 47.0
Inflorescence Dist Bet Flowers: 1.3
Inflorescence Dist To Sepal: 2.6
Floral Bracts Length: 1.1
Floral Bracts Width: 0.9
Ovary Length: 1.3
Ovary Width: 0.2
Ovary Shape: Arched
Ovary Color: Lilac/olive
Ovary Texture: Pubescent
Flower Natural Spread Length: 4.0
Flower Natural Spread Width: 4.3
Dorsal Sepal Length: 2.1
Dorsal Sepal Width: 1.0
Dorsal Sepal Cauda Length: 0.1
Dorsal Sepal Cauda Width: 0.1
Lateral Sepals Length: 2.3
Lateral Sepals Width: 1.0
Lateral Sepals Caudae Length: 0.2
Lateral Sepals Caudae Width: 0.1
Petals Length: 0.1
Petals Width: 0.9
Judging Center: Alamo
Award Number: 20261014
Award Date: September 18, 2026
Awarded As: CBR
Six violet flowers and one bud on a 72-cm erect inflorescence; sepals and petals cupped, brushed white proximally; sepals lanceolate; petals ovate; lip fused to column, trilobed, recurved, midlobe flabellate, apex cuspidate, throat white, callus red overlaid plum marginally; column white; anther cap white, spur mint, darker mint proximally; substance firm; texture waxy;Â recognized for rarity in cultivation and deep violet color; native to China SE Yunnan to N Vietnam. Vendor - Hengduan Mountains Biotechnology https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20002265-1http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242309701https://www.hengduanbiotech.net/products/calanthe-sinicahttps://www.orchidspecies.com/calsinica.htm
