Liparis exilis

Liparis exilis J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 27

Type: Versteeg 1665 (holo BO; iso L)

Terrestrial. Rhizome creeping, short. Pseudobulbs closely spaced or to 1 cm apart, erect, thin, stem-like, at the base (when dried) hardly swollen, 6-11.5 cm long, 1-leaved, at the base with large, 5-5.5 cm long cataphylls. Leaf erect, narrowly lanceolate, 15-18 cm long, 1-1.9 cm wide, narrowed at the base, apex gradually acuminate, the three main nerves prominent underneath. Inflorescence terminal, erect, laxly c. 10-20-flowered, at the base with a 1-1.2 cm long spathe; peduncle thin, 5-8.5 cm long, rachis angular, 5-11 cm long. Floral bracts lanceolate-triangular, acute, concave, 0.3-0.5 cm long. Flowers very small, 0.23 cm wide, 0.6 cm long. Median sepal widely patent, horizontal, oblong, 0.4 cm long, 0.16 cm wide, at the apex recurved, obtuse, dorsally near the apex minutely thickened, strongly convex, with 3 closely spaced nerves. Lateral sepals reflexed, obliquely oblong, 0.47 cm long, 0.18 cm wide, obtuse, apiculate, strongly convex, with 3 closely spaced nerves. Petals reflexed, linear, slightly falcate, obtuse, convex, 1-nerved, 0.47 cm long, 0.06 cm wide. Lip at the base erect, shortly adnate to the column, broadly subcuneate-clawed, concave, recurved, weakly 3-lobed, in total when flattened 0.33 cm long, 0.25 cm wide, inside with a high, subconical, dorsally convex, at the base in front concave callus, which is on either side dilated into a short lobule; lateral lobes divergent, horizontal, short, broadly rounded, convex; mid-lobe obtrapeziform, 0.13 cm long, 0.2 cm wide, truncate, with crenate or dentate margins, convex, at the apex in the middle terminating in a triangular, obtuse lobule. Column somewhat swollen, slightly curved, 0.25 cm long, at the base strongly dilated, inside concave, on either side of the stigma with a rounded wing; stigma transversely elliptic-half round. Anther almost round. Pollinia 4, united into two pear-shaped bodies. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.13 cm long; Pedicel 0.5 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)

Colours: Flowers.

Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest; 900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: August.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 416-157M.JPG.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

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