Liparis spectabilis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 204
Type: Schlechter 17060 (syn B, lost; iso BO, E, L 3x, NSW ,S); 19027 (syn B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, robust, 40-55 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, cylindrical or cylindrical-ovoid, laterally compressed, 2- (rarely 3-)leaved, 6-12 cm long, below the middle 1.5-2.5 cm diam. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate-ligulate, subacute, gradually somewhat narrowed towards the base, glabrous, 25-35 cm long, above the middle 4-5 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, straight or nearly so, about as long as the leaves or somewhat shorter, 5-6 cm diam. across the flowers, rather densely many-flowered, cylindrical, peduncle 10-15 cm long, terete, glabrous, with a few bract-like scales. Floral bracts erect-patent, lanceolate, acuminate, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals reflexed, oblong, obtuse, glabrous, c. 1 cm long. Later sepals oblique. Petals reflexed, obliquely linear, obtuse, glabrous, about as long as the sepals. Lip oblong-cuneate, in apical fourth bilobed, the lobes obliquely oblong, obtuse, with slightly crenulate and densely but minutely ciliolate margins, sinus between the lobes narrow with a minute apiculum, lip including the lobes 1.3 cm long, below the apex 0.7 cm wide, glabrous above, at the base inside with a small conical, double callus. Column slightly curved, glabrous, almost 0.6 cm long, somewhat dilated towards the apex, at the base conspicuously dilated. Anther subreniform-cucullate, obtuse, glabrous. Ovary with pedicel slender, c. 2 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Sepals and petals light orange-red, lip darker so, column yellowish green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in primary and secondary montane forest, also, less frequently, terrestrial; 1000 to 2275 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, April, May, June, August, September, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-440M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in shaded position.
Notes: This fine species is rather common.