Cremastra appendiculata var. variabilis("Saihairan")
Japanese name: サイハイラン（采配蘭） Scientific name:Cremastra appendiculata var. variabilis
[Overview]
A perennial growing in moist forests in hills and mountains.
It has ovoid pseudobulbs underground, one forming each year, and several become connected.
Only one leaf emerges from each new pseudobulb.
The leaves are narrowly oblong, 25–40 cm long and 4–5 cm wide, with a pointed tip.
Old leaves remain without withering until the new leaves emerge.
An erect flower stalk 30–50 cm tall emerges from the pseudobulb and bears a rather dense raceme in its upper part, with 10–20 flowers blooming facing diagonally downward.
The flowers are pale greenish brown tinged with reddish purple, and open partly.
The sepals and lateral petals are the same shape and size, linear-lanceolate, 3–3.5 cm long and about 5 mm wide, with pointed tips.
The lip is 3 cm long and 3-lobed, with a thickened base that clasps the club-shaped column.
[Notes]
The Japanese name likens the shape of the inflorescence to a saihai (a baton used by military commanders).
Depending on the region, it is registered in the Red Data list.
