Table 1. Comparison of the diagnostic characteristics of H. tiechangensis and its relatives.
Character H. tiechangensis H. josephi H. diplonema H. aitchisonii
Plant tall 11cm tall 5–20cm tall 8–13cm tall 12–33cm
Leaves 3.5cm × 2.5cm, apex acuminate, base narrowed and amplexicaul-sheathing, slightly fleshy, with 3 lateral veins 1.5–3.1 × 1–2.5cm, with white veins on adaxial surface orbicular, 1.5–2 × 1.4–1.7 cm, adaxially with yellowish white venation, densely finely papillate, base narrowed and amplexicaul-sheathing, margin white ciliate, apex acute. 2–5cm × 1.5–4cm, adaxially with 5 yellowish white venation, apex acute, base narrowed and amplexicaul-sheathing
Inflorescence laxly 5-flowered laxly 2–6-flowered 4–14-flowered dense many flowered
Dorsal sepal ca. 3mm × ca. 2.5mm 5.5–6 × 2.5–3mm ca. 3.5 × 3 mm 3–5 × 2.5–3.5 mm
Lateral sepals 4mm ×1.5mm 5–7 × 2.5–2.8mm ca. 4 × 2.5 mm 3.5–5.5 × 2–3 mm
Petals 3mm × 2mm, front side broadened as a small tooth at base petals not lobed obliquely falcate-ovate, ca. 3.5 × 2.3 mm, glabrous, entire 2-lobed, 3–5 × 1.5–2mm, with 1 toothed, small lower lobe at base
Lateral lobes of lip lanceolate, 2.5 mm × 1mm, slightly shorter than mid-lobe, right angle to mid-lobe 0.6–0.9 cm long, apex recurvedcoiled filiform, 6–7 mm, much longer than mid-lobe nearly subulate, sickle-shaped and curved upward, horn-like, 6–12 mm long, apex slightly hooked
Appendage cushion-like lacking - -
Pedicel and ovary cylindric, twisted, slightly arching, rachis pubescent glabrous twisted, terete, pubescent papillate hairs
Stigmas horn-like, elongate along callus two stigmas, clavate processes clavate forward, subclavate, stubby
Elevation range 1900m 3000–4600m 2700–4300m 2100–4300m