Liparis cymbidiifolia J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 27
Type: Bogor cult. (Exp. Lorentz, Djibdja 376) s.n. (holo BO)
Terrestrial. Rhizome creeping, short. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, erect, oblong, in cross-section elliptic, 3-4 cm long, 1-1.2 cm wide, 3- to 4-leaved. Leaves not articulated, erect, divergent, linear-strap-shaped, 23-35 cm long, 1.25-2.3 cm wide, acute, at the base somewhat narrowed and conduplicate, 5-nerved, the three inner nerves closely spaced, the outer nerves above indistinct, mid-rib grooved above, keeled underneath; sheath short, clasping the pseudobulb. Inflorescence terminal, erect, shorter than the leaves, at the apex densely many-flowered, conical-racemose, at the base with a conduplicate, acuminate, sharply acute, 3.2 cm long spathe; peduncle angular, with small longitudinal ribs, 11 cm long, with several linear-lanceolate, acute scales; rachis 3 cm long or more, 3 cm diam. across the flowers. Floral bracts appressed, at the base ovate, long and sharply acuminate, concave, 0.75 cm long. Flowers 0.85 cm wide. Median sepal widely patent, recurved, oblong-triangular, obtuse, convex, 0.5 cm long, 0.27 cm wide. Lateral sepals in apical part strongly recurved, obliquely oblong, obtuse, convex, 0.5 cm long, 0.27 cm wide. Petals widely patent, slightly recurved, linear, obtuse, at the base slightly dilated, convex, 1-nerved, 0.53 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Lip very shortly clawed; claw shortly adnate to the column, inside with a transverse, in front rounded callus, 0.13 cm long; blade dilated, transversely elliptic, subreniform, when flattened 0.47 cm long, 0.65 cm wide, at the apex broad, indistinctly trilobulate, crenulate-dentate, in the middle with a small, longitudinal, short indistinct rib. Column hardly curved, 0.35 cm long, at the base 0.23 cm wide, in basal half strongly dilated, much broader than the ovary, dorsally compressed, in the apical part inside strongly concave, on either side of the stigma with a minute rounded wing; stigma small, lower margins raised, obtuse, triangular; clinandrium concave. Anther cucullate, obtuse. Pollinia 4, united into two pear-shaped bodies. Ovary pedicellate, , 1 cm long, 6-grooved. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Pseudobulbs pale green. Leaves above shining dark green with pale nerves, underneath duller and paler green. Floral bracts green. Ovary pale greenish brown. Sepals dull yellow with greenish tips. Petals pale greenish brown. Lip orange, at the base shiny. Column pale brownish orange. Anther green with two indistinct yellow spots. Pollinia ochrish yellow.
Habitat: Terrestrial in primary and secondary hill and montane forest; 450 to 1350 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-121M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm to intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.