Liparis oligantha Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 183
Type: Schlechter 19486 (holo B, lost; iso L, S)
Terrestrial, erect, to 25 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, very shortly puberulous. Stem cylindrical, somewhat carnose, at the base covered with a few long-clasping cataphylls, usually 3-leaved near the apex, up to 6 cm high, c. 0.5 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent or suberect, petiolate, elliptic, acuminate, glabrous, plicate, blade 6-10 cm long, near the middle 2.7-4.3 cm wide, petiole long-sheathing, 2-4.5 cm long. Inflorescence erect, slender, angular, glabrous, usually a little surpassing the leaves, laxly 2-7-flowered. Floral bracts deltoid, acuminate, very small, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers erect-patent, glabrous. Sepals oblong-ligulate, outside along the mid-vein keeled-thickened, glabrous. Median sepal 1.2 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, 0.9 cm long. Petals obliquely and narrowly linear, subobtuse, glabrous, somewhat dilated at the base, 1.1 cm long. Lip broadly obovate-cuneate, 1.1 cm long, above the middle 0.8 cm wide, in upper half with minutely serrulate margins, at the base with a very small bilobulate callus, apex broadly obtuse, retuse. Column slightly curved, glabrous, somewhat dilated towards the apex, 0.5 cm long. Ovary cylindrical, slightly ribbed, c. 1.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers greenish violet, column white.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 1000 to 1970 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, May, August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-334M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.