Satyrium orbiculare Rolfe

A terrestrial herb 1–3.5 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.. Tubers globose to elliptical-fusiform, 6–22 mm. long, 5–8 mm. in diameter, ± densely tomentose.. Roots slender, flexuous, pubescent.. Stem erect, slender to rather slender, terete, with 2 basal leaves and several distant, rather loose sheaths.. Basal leaves adpressed to the ground, orbicular to reniform, rounded or very shortly apiculate, 1.5–3 cm. long, 2–4.5 cm. broad; sheathing leaves 3–6, rather loose and swollen, subacute, 1.5–3 cm. long, 10–17 mm. broad.. Inflorescence 2.5–6.5 cm. long, 2–2.5 cm. in diameter, densely 6–30-flowered; bracts erect at first, deflexed later, lanceolate, acute, 7–15 mm. long.. Flowers spreading, yellow to bright red; pedicel with ovary slightly curved, 7–8 mm. long.. Sepals and petals somewhat decurved, united to one another and to the lip at the very base.. Intermediate sepal oblanceolate, rounded at apex, 5.5–8.5 mm. long, 1.5–3 mm. broad; laterals obliquely oblong-elliptical, very obtuse, a little shorter and broader than the intermediate.. Petals similar to intermediate sepal, 5–7.5 mm. long; all tepals 3–5-veined.. Lip ellipsoid, hooded, apex shortly recurved, 6–7 mm. long, keeled down the back, mouth 3 mm. broad, 2-spurred at base.. Spurs slender, curved, tapering, ± 1 cm. long.. Column erect, nearly 5 mm. high, the stalk equalling the fertile part, curved; anther-loculi pendent, ellipsoid, 2 mm. long; stigma erect, semi-orbicular, 2 mm. broad, 1 mm. high, rostellum projecting downwards, 3-lobed, all lobes acute but middle lobe about twice as long as the side lobes.