Satyrium sphaeranthum Schltr.

A terrestrial herb 2.5–11 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.. Tubers ellipsoid to fusiform-cylindrical, 1.5–4.5 cm. long, 7–17 mm. in diameter, ± densely tomentose.. Roots slender, flexuous, pubescent.. Stem erect, slender to stout, with 1–3 leaves towards the base and several sheathing leaves.. Leaves altogether 6–8, the lowest 1 or 2 sheathing, obtuse, the middle 1–3 lanceolate to broadly ovate-elliptical, up to 9–30 cm. long and 4.5–13.5 cm. broad, the upper ones much smaller, adpressed, up to 5–14 cm. long and 1–3 cm. broad.. Inflorescence cylindrical, 4.5–41 cm. long, 1.5–2.5 cm. in diameter, densely many-flowered; bracts reflexed, lanceolate, 1–3 cm. long.. Flowers half-spreading, sessile, white to golden-yellow; ovary 6–7 mm. long.. Sepals and petals deflexed, united to one another in their basal half and to the lip in its lower quarter.. Intermediate sepal oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, 4.5–6 mm. long, scarcely 1 mm. broad; laterals obliquely oblong-elliptical, obtuse, 4.5–6.5 mm. long, 1.5–2 mm. broad.. Petals similar to intermediate sepal but smaller.. Lip fleshy, almost globose, hooded, the apex shortly reflexed, 5–7 mm. long.. Spurs parallel to the ovary, 6–11 mm. long, with often a pair of additional spurs 0.5–1.5 mm. long.. Column curved, ± 4 mm. high; stigma transversely elliptical, 1–2 mm. high, 2–3 mm. broad, rostellum 3-lobed, the middle lobe much longer than the tooth-like side lobes, broadly spoon-shaped from a narrow base.