Pecteilis gigantea (Sm.) Raf.

Plant robust, up to 1 m tall. Tubers large, spindle-shaped. Stem stout, leafy, above densely covered with cucullate, large sheaths, passing into the bracts. Leaves 4-5, crowded below the middle of stem, elliptic, acute, up to 10(-15) x 5(-6) cm. Inflorescence 3-5-flowered. Bracts cucullate, exceeding ovary. Flowers very large, up to 7 cm in diam., white, ± tinged with greenish, somewhat waxy, strongly fragrant in the evening. Dorsal sepal broadly obtriangular, up to 4.5 x 4.5 cm; the lateral sepals spreading, obliquely-oblong, 4 x 2.2 cm. Petals linear, fleshy, 3.5 x 0.3 cm. Labellum up to 4 x 7 cm, fleshy, 3-lobed; mid-lobe linear-lanceolate to ligu¬late, 3.5 x 0.4-0.9 cm, side-lobes fan-shaped, deeply laciniate, in front 3-3.5 cm broad. Spur about twice as long as ovary, 8-11(-13) cm long, rather slender. Column up to 1-1.5 cm high. Ovary elongate ± 5 cm long.

Distribution: North-Western Himalaya and India, 1000-2000 m. Closely related to Pecteilis susannae (L.) Rafin. from Eastern Asia (China to Malaya) and Indonesia.

Fl. Per.: September to November.

Pecteilis gigantea is fragrant orchid species found in hilly evergreen forests in India at height 1800 ft. above sea level.

Pecteilis gigantea là một loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Lan. Loài này được (Sm.) Raf. mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1837.