Liparis platychila Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 105
Type: Schlechter 14041 (holo B, lost; iso P)
Epiphytic, caespitose, c. 15 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots rather thick, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs ovoid, at the base with a few sheaths, 1-leaved at the apex, carnose, 1.2-1.4 cm long, near the middle 0.7-0.8 cm diam. Leaf erect or erect-patent, oblanceolate, acute, thin-textured, veined, 10-13 cm long, in apical half 2-2.5 cm wide. Inflorescence terminal, erect, in the basal part with a few distant, acuminate, small sheaths; rachis subcylindrical, laxly ca. 20-flowered, as long as the leaves or a little shorter. Floral bracts lanceolate, erect-patent, almost as long as the ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Median sepal recurved, oblong-lanceolate, subacute, at the base somewhat dilated, 0.5 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse, as long as the median sepal but a little broader. Petals reflexed, narrowly linear, acute, about as long as the median sepal. Lip at the base porrect, spreading, broadly obovate, sometimes suborbicular, 0.5 cm long, above the middle 0.5 cm wide, broadly obtuse, margins, except at the base, very minutely crenulate, lip at the base with a very small transverse callus and with a longitudinal keel, broad at the base, which is decurrent on the apex of the lip blade. Column almost straight, short. Anther rounded, in front very shortly acuminate. Ovary shortly pedicellate, , clavate, 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1300 to 1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-374M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.