Liparis finisterrae Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 184
Type: Schlechter 18037 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, c. 30 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stems crowded, cylindrical, at the base covered with high clasping cataphylls, 2-3-leaved above the middle, 7-10 cm long. Leaves erect-patent, broadly elliptic, acuminate, glabrous, petiolate; blade 8-15 cm long, near the middle 4-6 cm wide; petiole sheathing at the base, 3-4 cm long. Inflorescence straight, angular, glabrous, surpassing the leaves, rather densely several-flowered. Floral bracts patent to spreading, lanceolate, acuminate, very small, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers erect-patent, glabrous. Median sepal ligulate, obtuse, 1.1 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, subobtuse, c. 0.9 cm long. Petals obliquely and narrowly linear, as long as the median sepal. Lip at the base cuneate, broadly obovate, 0.9 cm long, above the middle 0.85 cm wide, at the base with a very small, deeply emarginate callus, minutely apiculate, apical margins minutely denticulate. Column somewhat incurved, at the base laterally distinctly dilated, half as long as the lip; clinandrium medium-sized. Anther semiorbicular, subapiculate. Ovary 6-ribbed, glabrous, including the pedicel c. 1.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Not recorded for the type. Other specimens have purple flowers with a lighter purple lip and a pale green column.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane ridge forest, growing under shrubs; 600 to 900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-163M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.