Liparis sympodialis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1911) 193
Type: Schlechter 19425 (syn B, lost; E, L 2x, NSW, S); 19769 (syn B, lost)
Epiphytic, small, c. 6-12 cm high. Rhizome decumbent, elongated; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, nearly glabrous. Pseudobulbs closely spaced or up to 2 cm apart, cylindrical or more or less laterally compressed, short, up to 1 cm high, c. 0.3 cm diam., 1-leaved, together with the persistent rhizome forming a long sympodium. Leaves erect or suberect, oblanceolate-elliptic, shortly acuminate, narrowed towards the base, glabrous on both sides, 7-12 cm long, above the middle 2-3.5 cm wide. Inflorescence slender pedunculate, erect, laxly 3-5-flowered, usually shorter than the leaves; peduncle angular, glabrous, without peduncle-scales. Floral bracts erect-patent, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, much shorter than the pedicellate, ovary. Flowers erect-patent or erect. Sepals patent, ligulate, subobtuse, usually apiculate, c. 0.9 cm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals patent, narrowly linear, acute, glabrous, almost as long as the sepals. Lip as long as the petals, in the middle almost 0.8 cm wide, with a short narrow base, expanded into a suborbicular, obtusely apiculate blade, in apical half with serrulate margins, glabrous, with a lanceolate basal callus decurrent to the middle. Column slightly curved, with short auricles, at the base dilated, in front below the stigma longitudinally grooved, glabrous, 0.35 cm long. Anther broadly ovate, obtuse, glabrous. Ovary with pedicel glabrous, c. 1.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers light brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest, also lithophytic on limestone cliffs; 700 to 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 416-455M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.