Calanthe pulchella (Kraenzl.) M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit., Phytotaxa 472: 164 (2020).
Homotypic Names:
Phaius pulchellus Kraenzl., Abh. Naturwiss. Vereine Bremen 7: 254 (1882).
Description:
Medium to large sized, terrestrial or epiphyte with 2 to 3, the oldest green & discoid, the newest enveloped by sheaths, cauliform pseudobulbs carrying 3 to 4, narrowly lanceolate, acute, plicate, undulate margined, longly acuminate at both ends, petiolate base leaves that blooms in the late spring and summer on an erect, that blooms in the spring and summer on an erect, longer than the leaves, 40 to 80 cm long, peduncel enveloped by 3 to 4 basal sheaths and several sterile bracts becoming caducous above, rachis 10 to 20 cm long, loose, 12 to 15 flowered inflorescence with very caducous, lanceolate, very acute, as long as to a bit longer than the pedicel and carrying very large, variable colored flowers.
Habitat:
Endemic to Madagascar, it grows in shady, humid forests at 2296-4920 ft. (700-1500 m).
Notes:
Spring flowering is reported in cultivation, but blooming occurs in Jun.-Sep. (Dec.-Mar.) in the plants' natural habitat, which corresponds with the rainy season.
Cultivation:
Read more of cultivation of Calanthe pulchella (Kraenzl.) M.W.Chase, Christenh. & Schuit.
Distribution:
Mascarenes, Madagascar
References:
Flora of madagascar Perrier 1939/81 Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; Expansion of Calanthe to include the species of Cephalantheropsis, Gastrorchis and Phaius (Collabieae; Orchidaceae), Vol. 472 No. 2: 23 November 2020 Phytotaxa; POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved 19 November 2022."
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.

Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph ©Frederic Henze. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission.