Briggsia kurzii (C. B. Clarke) W. E. Evans

Briggsia amabilis and Loxostigma kurzii were both recognized in FRPS, but this study shows that they are conspecific.

Stems 12-30(-40) cm, sparsely pubescent. Leaves mostly opposite at stem apex, basal leaves usually small, equal to subequal in a pair; petiole absent to 1.5(-3) cm, sparsely pubescent to puberulent; leaf blade oblanceolate to obovate or lanceolate to ovate, (0.5-)4-14 X (0.3-)2-6 cm, adaxially sparsely appressed pubescent, abaxially nearly glabrous, sparsely pubescent along veins, base sometimes oblique, narrowly cuneate, to rounded, margin irregularly serrate, apex acuminate to obtuse; lateral veins 5-7 on each side of midrib, conspicuous. Cymes 1- or 2-flowered; peduncle 1.2-6.2 cm, pubescent; bracts 2(or 3), lanceolate to linear, 2-5 X 0.5-1.5 mm, outside sparsely pubescent, inside glabrous, margin entire. Calyx segments lanceolate to narrowly triangular, 1-1.8 cm X 2-3 mm, outside sparsely pubescent, margin entire to sparsely denticulate, veins indistinct. Corolla yellow to orange, rarely white, inside abaxial lip purple to brown spotted, 3.8-5 cm, outside very sparsely pubescent, glabrescent, inside glabrous; tube 2.8-3.8 X 1.5-2 cm; adaxial lip ca. 8 mm, lobes semiorbicular, 4-6 X 5-8 mm, apex rounded; abaxial lip ca. 1 cm, lobes semiorbicular, central lobe 5-10 X 5-8 mm, lateral lobes 2.8-8 X 4-7 mm, apex obtuse to rounded. Adaxial stamens adnate to corolla ca. 4 mm above base, ca. 2.5 cm, abaxial ones adnate to corolla ca. 5 mm above base, ca. 3 cm; filaments glabrous; anthers globose, thecae not confluent or confluent; staminode ca. 2 mm. Pistil 1.8-2.4 cm; ovary pubescent. Style 7-12 mm, sparsely pubescent. Capsule 3.5-4.5 cm, glabrescent. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct.

SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar, Sikkim].

Rocks of grassy slopes, epiphytic in montane forests; 1800-3500 m.

Didymocarpus ? kurzii C. B. Clarke, Commelyn. Cyrtandr. Bengal. 96. 1874; Briggsia amabilis (Diels) Craib; B. amabilis var. taliensis Craib; Chirita kurzii (C. B. Clarke) C. B. Clarke; Didissandra amabilis Diels; Loxostigma kurzii (C. B. Clarke) B. L. Burtt; Roettlera kurzii (C. B. Clarke) Kuntze.