Liparis lacus

Liparis lacus

Liparis lacus J.J.Sm. in L.S.Gibbs, Phytogeogr. Fl. Arfak Mts. (1917) 111

Type: Gibbs 5689 (holo BM; iso BO)

Rhizome creeping, covered with sheaths that increase in size, the final one the largest, leaf-like, tubular, to 3.75 cm long. Pseudobulbs to 3 cm apart, 2-leaved. Leaves ovate, acuminate, acute, with curved veins, with sparse cross-veins, with abaxially prominent mid-rib, when dried membranous, 4.5-6 by 2.75-3-5 cm; petiole broadly channelled, including the sheath that clasps the pseudobulb 2-2.75 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, erect,, densely many-flowered; peduncle 4-4.3 cm long, at the base thickened into an ovate, carnose, 1.6-2.2 cm long pseudobulb; rachis 0.9-1.4 cm long. Floral bract subulate, acute, 1-nerved, 1-2 cm long, at the base 0.27 wide. Flowers turned to all sides. Median sepal oblong-ovate, gradually acuminate, acute, convex, 3-nerved, 0.93 by 0.35 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-ovate, gradually acuminate, 3-nerved, just above the base 5-nerved, mid-rib prominent outside, as long as the median sepal. Petals linear, gradually narrowed towards the apex, acute, 1-nerved, 0.83 cm long, at the base 0.1 cm wide. Lip porrect, 0.85 by 0.7 cm, slightly sigmoid, strongly concave, convex below, 3-nerved, when flattened angular-ovate, slightly cordate, with angular, rounded basal lobules, apex abruptly triangular-acuminate, lip apically pellucid-punctate, finely erose, inside above the base with a U-shaped, at the base rounded, in front gradually vanishing callus, with a longitudinal, linear, convex, towards the apex lower, very minutely papillose-rugulose band extending to beyond the middle of the lip, the band between the legs of the callus passing into an almost semi-orbicular concavity. Column short, broad, distinctly curved, in outline oblong-quadrangular, apex truncate, at the broad base truncate, dorsally convex and near the apex with two longitudinal ribs, in front concave, without anther 0.25 cm long; clinandrium small, concave, with small longitudinal rib that is decurrent on the rostellum; wings obtuse. Anther cucullate, much prolonged beyond the thecae, in outline subquadrangular or rather 7-angular, apex abruptly subulate-acuminate, at the base truncate, 0.14 cm long, the connective thickened into a small longitudinal rib, thecae suborbicular. Pollinia 4, arranged in pairs, laterally compressed, triangular, outside convex. Ovary pedicellate, 6-ribbed, 0.9 cm long. Fruit oblong-obovoid, at the base acute, 1.1 cm long, pedicel 1.1 cm long. (After Smith, 1917)


Flowers green with brown lip.

Terrestrial in primary hill forest and young secondary montane forest, sometimes gregarious; 600 to 2100 m.

Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Papua (Indonesia). See map

distribution in New Guinea

Intermediate to cool growing terrestrial, requires shaded position.

March, May, December.

  • Smith, J.J., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, Suppl. 2 (1930) t. 24, fig. V
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Malaxideae
  • Section Rhachidibulbon
  • Genus Liparis
  • Species Liparis lacus

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Liparis lacus

Liparis lacus J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, based on Gibbs 5689

Liparis lacus

Liparis lacus J.J.Sm., habit, drawing Darmosoediro, based on Gibbs 5689

Liparis lacus

Liparis lacus J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, based on Stein 61

Liparis lacus

Liparis lacus J.J.Sm., herbarium sheet, Gibbs 5689 (isotype specimen BO)