Calanthe plantaginea

Calanthe plantaginea
Illustration by Matilda Smith, published in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 1919
Conservation status
CITES Appendix II
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Embryophytes
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Spermatophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Calanthe
Species:	C. plantaginea
Binomial name
Calanthe plantaginea Lindl

Calanthe plantaginea, sometimes known as plantain calanthe or broad leaved calanthe, is a species of orchid in the genus Calanthe found in tropical Asia in South, Southeast and Southern sections of East Asia.

Description

It is an evergreen perennial herb growing around 40 to 65 cm tall. It has a pseudobulb instead of a true bulb. The leaves are long, lance shaped, being 20 to 30 cm in length. The plant has many sweet scented flowers measuring around 3 cm across and having a lilac, pink or white colour.

Distribution

It is found primarily in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and does extend into temperate areas like in China. It is found in both the East and West Himalayas (Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal), Myanmar, Mountains of Southwest China, Southern tips of Tibet and South Central China. They can be found in shaded tropical evergreen areas.