Liparis similis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 197
Type: Schlechter 20120 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, 25-35 cm high. Rhizome very short; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, slender, petiole-like, slightly swollen towards the base, towards the apex somewhat laterally compressed, 6-8 cm longs, at the base hardly more than 0.3 cm diam., 1-leaved. Leaf erect to suberect, oblanceolate-ligulate, acute to acuminate, gradually narrowed towards the base, glabrous on both sides, veined, 18-23 cm long, above the middle 1.5-2.7 cm wide. Inflorescence with a slender peduncle, laxly c. 10-12-flowered, secund, about as long as the leaves; peduncle somewhat terete, glabrous, usually without peduncle-scales. Floral bracts erect-patent, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, hardly more than half as long as the ovary. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals oblong, obtuse, recurved, c. 0.65 cm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely linear, obtuse, as long as the sepals. Lip at the base broadly clawed, abruptly geniculate, obscurely 3-lobed; lateral lobes short, rounded, erect; mid-lobe subquadrate-elliptic, in front 3-lobulate, the lobules short, triangular, obtuse, the lateral lobes a little shorter than the mid-lobed, between the lateral lobes with an erect, large, subquadrate basal callus with an apical pit, the whole lip glabrous, about as long as the sepals, mid-lobe near the middle 0.4 cm wide, 0.5 cm long. Column slender, constricted above the middle, glabrous, slightly curved, 0.55 cm long. Anther subreniform, obtuse, glabrous. Ovary and pedicel glabrous, 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Sepals and petals yellowish green, lip brownish green, column lighter.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 800 to 1220 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-434M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.