Liparis arachnites Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 192
Type: Schlechter 19721 (holo B, lost)
Terrestrial, erect, small, 13-18 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Pseudobulbs short, compressed, oblong, 1-leaved, 1.5-2 cm long, near the middle 0.5-0.6 cm wide. Leaf erect or suberect, lanceolate-elliptic, acute or acuminate, narrowed at the base, glabrous, 7-16 cm long, near the middle 2-3.5 cm wide. Inflorescence slender pedunculate, slender, laxly 6-10-flowered, usually not surpassing the leaf; peduncle angular, glabrous, without peduncle-scales. Floral bracts erect-patent, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, much shorter than the pedicellate, ovary. Flowers erect-patent, sometimes not resupinate. Sepals patent, linear-ligulate, subobtuse, at the base somewhat dilated, glabrous, 1.8 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals patent narrowly linear, subobtuse, glabrous, almost as long as the sepals. Lip curved, oblong, as long as the petals, near the middle 0.7 cm wide, glabrous, inside above the base with a minute semiorbicular median callus, margins in apical half minutely subciliate-serrulate, apex obtuse with an apiculum. Column semiterete, slightly curved, glabrous, 0.7 cm long, at the base only slightly dilated. Anther ovate-cucullate, obtuse, glabrous. Ovary with pedicel glabrous, apex incurved, 1.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers brown.
Habitat: Terrestrial in montane forest; 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-28M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.