Liparis riparia J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1913) 557
Type: Versteeg 1089 (syn BO); 1348 (syn BO); Bogor cult. (Djibdja) 273 (syn BO)
Pseudobulbs 0.4-0.5 cm apart, erect, at the base swollen, long narrowed above, 5-6 cm long, at the apex 2-leaved, at the base with a few large, long persisting, 4-7 cm long sheaths that sometimes carry a small leaf-blade. Leaves distant, separated by a 1-2 cm long internode, linear-lanceolate, equally or unequally acute, gradually narrowed towards the base, with 5 nerves, 17-20 by 1.1-1.25 cm, Sheath short, that of the lower leaf 0.3-0.6 cm long, that of the upper leaf hardly developed. Inflorescence erect, shorter than the leaves, laxly many-flowered; spathe 1.5 cm long; peduncle 4-5 cm long, with a few small bract-like scales; rachis, 9-12 cm long. Floral bracts appressed, oblong- to lanceolate-triangular, acute, concave, 0.3-0.43 cm long. Flowers very small, widely patent; sepals and petals reflexed, convex. Median sepal oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 3-nerved, 0.28-0.3 by 0.13-O.15 cm. Lateral sepals similar to the median sepal, slightly oblique, 0.25-0.3 by 0.15-0.16 cm. Petals linear, obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.25-0.28 by 0.04-0.05 cm. Lip almost parallel with the column, porrect, near the middle recurved at almost right angles; basal part concave-channelled, with convex margins, glabrous, above the base on either side with a small, longitudinal, inward, broadly triangular rib, below on either side with a shorter rib; upper part convex, at the apex broad, obtusely bilobed, with a minute obtuse lobule in the broad sinus, lateral margins finely ciliate, lip when flattened in total oblong-hexagonal, 0.26-0.28 by 0.17 cm. Column rather short, slightly curved, 0.14-0.16 cm long, at the base in front swollen, at the apex truncate, on either side of the stigma with a minute lobule. Anther cucullate, subreniform, at the apex obtuse, 0.05 cm wide. Ovary pedicellate, , 0.8-0.85 cm long. Fruit widely patent, obovoid, rounded-triangular, at the apex obtuse, at the base acute, 0.7 cm long, 0.25 cm diam. (After Smith, 1915)
Colours: Leaves and rachis of inflorescence pale green. Sepals and petals pale green, lip , pale brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in riverine forest and on Pandanus in Metroxylon swamps.
Flowering time in the wild: May, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 416-410M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.