Malaxis microtatantha Tang & F.T.Wang 1951

Plant and Flowers in situ China

Photos by © The Orchid Society of China Website

Common Name The Miniature Malaxis - In China Xiao Zhao Lan

Flower Size Very Small

Found in north Fujian, central Jiangzi provinces of China and eastern Taiwan in forests on humid and shady rocks at elevations of 200 to 1800 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial or lithophyte with ovoid to subglobose pseudobulbs enveloped by white, thin, membraneous sheaths and carrying a single, nearly adpressed to the substrate, ovate to broadly ovate, subtruncate below into the amplexicaul petillate base leaf that blooms in the spring on an erect, often purple, slightly compressed, very narrowly winged on both sides, usually 10 to 20 flowered inflorescence with broadly ovate, embracing the pedicel floral bracts.

Synonyms Malaxis tairukouensis S.S.Ying 1990; Microstylis microtatantha Schltr. 1919; Microstylis minutiflora Rolfe 1908; Microstylis pusilla Rolfe 1911; Oberonioides microtatantha (Tang & F.T.Wang) Szlach. 1995

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Botanisk Tidsskrift Bind 71 1-30 Contributions to the Orchid Flora of Thailand VII Seidenfaden 1976 drawing fide; Rudolf Schlechter Die Orchideen Band 1C lieferung 42 - 43 pg 2626 - 2762 Brieger 2001 as Oberonioides microtatantha; Flora of China Vol 25 Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2009 as Oberonioides microtatantha; Flora of China Vol 25 Illustrations Zhengyi, Raven & Deyuan 2010 as Oberonioides microtatantha drawing fide; Atlas of Native Orchids of China Vol 2 Jin Xiaohua, Li Jianwu and Ye Deping 2019 as Oberonioides microtantha photo fide;

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