Liparis latibasis J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1913) 556
Type: Gjellerup 901 (holo BO)
Plant small. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, 1-leaved, strongly laterally compressed, 0.5 cm long, 0.4 cm wide, at the base with several triangular, conduplicate sheaths that become larger upwards, with acute or, in the upper ones, acuminate apices. Leaf erect, not articulated, oblong-obovate-elliptic, shortly broadly acuminate, acute, at the base conduplicate, mid-rib grooved above, sharply keeled below, 5.7 by 2.2 cm. Inflorescence erect, short, 2-flowered, at the base with a conduplicate, acute, keeled, 1.1 cm long spathe, with the keel irregularly dentate-wavy; peduncle angular, ribbed, 2-3 cm long; rachis angular, 0.5 cm long. Floral bracts patent, triangular, acute, concave, up to 2.38 cm long. Flowers rather large, 1.8 cm wide. Sepal subtriangular-oblong, obtuse, strongly convex, 3-nerved, 0.8 by 0.27 cm. Lateral sepals widely patent, margins obliquely revolute, obliquely oblong, obtuse, strongly convex with a longitudinal groove, keeled outside, with the keel at the apex slightly prolonged, 3-nerved, 0.8 by 0.28 cm. Petals reflexed, obliquely linear, acute, margins strongly recurved, strongly convex, 1-nerved, 0.8 by 0.08 cm. Lip at the base parallel with the column, porrect, obtusely recurved, shortly clawed, the claw concave, through a triangular thickening adnate to the base of the column, with a small, at the base rounded, in front slightly concave callus, 0.15 by 0.24 cm; blade subangular-orbicular, in front prolonged in a distinct triangular lobule, on either side of the small longitudinal channel convex, in front concave, erose-crenulate, lip in total slightly more than 0.8 cm long, 0.7 cm wide. Column curved, on either side of the stigma somewhat dilated, at the base strongly dilated, in front below the stigma longitudinally grooved and on either side convex, without anther 0.37 cm long, at the base 0.25 cm wide; clinandrium concave, suborbicular; stigma quadrangular. Ovary pedicellate, , 6-grooved, 1.25 cm long. Fruit (immature) oblong-obovoid, strongly and almost equally 9-ribbed, 1 cm long, 0.53 cm diam., pedicel 1.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1915)
Colours: Flowers light orange.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 416-251M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.