An erect epiphytic herb.. Pseudobulbs cylindrical-fusiform or conical-ovoid, yellowish, with 3–5 nodes, 3–9 cm. long, 1–3 cm. broad, 4–6-leaved.. Leaves narrowly elliptic, acute to acuminate, plicate, articulated at a persistent sheathing base, thin-textured; median and some secondary nerves prominent and hard, partially remaining as sharp, rigid thorns after lamina is shed; sheaths blackish brown along margins and at base, becoming scarious and fibrous, 2–3(–5) cm. long; lamina, including petiole, 20–40 cm. long, 1.5–3.5(–4) cm. broad.. Inflorescence erect, paniculate, 15–50 cm. long, appearing from base of pseudobulbs; branches spreading, 3–22 cm. long, many-flowered; sterile bracts 3–4, remote, ovate-elliptic, obtuse to acute, amplexicaul, 1.5–4 cm. long; bracts subtending branches ovate-elliptic or narrowly elliptic, acute, 0.8–2.5 cm. long; fertile bracts triangular-ovate, acute, 0.1–0.3 cm. long.. Flowers with sepals purple or brown on the outside, pale green inside, petals pale green or cream flushed purple or brown, lip with pale greenish yellow side lobes and deep yellow mid-lobe.. Pedicel with ovary slender, 10–15 mm. long.. Sepals spathulate-oblong, obtuse, 5–6.5 mm. long, 1.5–2 mm. broad.. Petals elliptic, obtuse, 4–6 mm. long, 2.5–3 mm. broad.. Lip 3-lobed, 5–6 mm. long, 3 mm. broad; mid-lobe retuse to bifid; side lobes oblong, obtuse, erect; disc with 2 fleshy keels.. Spur cylindrical, obtuse, sharply bent forward, 3–4 mm. long.. Column erect, oblong, biauriculate at base, 3 mm. long; anther ovate.. Pl. 1. Fig. 89.
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Pseudobulbs 3–9 × 1–3 cm, conical-ovoid or cylindrical-fusiform, ribbed, 3–5-noded, yellow, set close together on a woody rhizome; roots c. 2 mm in diameter, clinging to the substrate*.Leaves 20–40 cm long, including the petiole, 1.5–4 cm wide, narrowly elliptic, acute or acuminate, plicate, deciduous, articulated to a persistent sheathing base; median and some secondary nerves hard and remaining as spines after the lamina is shed.
Lip 4–6 × 3–3.5 mm, 3-lobed; side lobes erect, oblong, rounded; mid-lobe c. 2 × 3 mm, bifid or retuse; disk with 2 fleshy keels; spur 4–6 mm long, bent forward, obtuse or bifid at the apex.
Inflorescence arising from the base of a pseudobulb when the plant is leafless, erect, paniculate with spreading branches, many-flowered; scape with 3–4 sheaths.
Flowers yellowish flushed with purple, particularly on the outer surface; lip with deep yellow mid-lobe.
Column 3 mm long, erect, oblong, with 2 auricles at the base.
Sepals 5–7 × 1.5–2 mm, oblanceolate, subacute.
Petals 4–6 × 2.5–3 mm, elliptic, obtuse.
Pedicel 8–9 mm long; ovary 3 mm long.
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