Ohwi 1985 Flora of Japan

Stems 10-20 cm. long, slightly fleshy, from creeping rhizomes, 4- to 6-leaved toward the base; leaves oblong-ovate to broadly ovate, 7-20 mm. long, 5-12 mm. wide, acute, mucronate, glabrous, red-brown when dry, slighdy fleshy, the petioles 5-10 mm. long, broadened and short-sheathing at base; peduncles with white recurved hairs, the scales 2 or 3, remote, appressed, sheathing at base; racemes short, 2- to 5-flowered, the bracts 5-7 mm. long, lanceolate; ovary white-pubescent, subsessile; flowers small; sepals slightly united below into a tube, the lobes or segments to 3.7 mm. long, the dorsal lobe slightly shorter; lip nearly included, with 2 callosities on inner side of inflated lower part, the limb T-shaped, the lobes ovate, entire, obtuse. Woods in mountains; Kyushu (Tanega-shima) ; very rare.

Japan Red List (2000)

It is a terrestrial orchid that grows in evergreen forests. The stem of the orchid grows to a height of 10-15cm, with 3-5 leaves located in the middle and below the stem. The upper part of the stem above the leaves is covered with white hairs and has 2-3 scattered, pressed scales. The leaves are purple-brown in color, elongated oval-shaped with a pointed end, and measure 7-20mm in length. From April to June, the orchid produces an inflorescence with 3-5 flowers. The flowers are oriented sideways and have a pale pink color. The sepals are fused to form a tubular shape, with the tips divided into 3 egg-shaped segments. The lip is longer than the lateral petals, measuring about 5mm.

Of the four mesh areas in Okinawa where this species is found, the current status is unknown in two of them, and there is a possibility that it may have become extinct due to collection for horticultural purposes. In the other two mesh areas, only a few individuals or several dozen individuals remain, but in one of them, the population was reduced to less than half in the past due to activities such as forest clearing. Subsequent surveys have confirmed the presence of a small number of individuals in Miyazaki.