Volume 12 > Part 3 > Year 2022 > Page 809 > Orchidaceae > Liparis

12. Liparis elegans Lindl.wfo-0000228107

Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 30. 1830; Seidenf., Dansk Bot. Ark. 31(1): 70, fig. 45. 1976; Seidenf. & J.J.Wood, Orchids Penins. Malaysia Singapore: 236, fig. 100a–c, t. 14a. 1992; J.B.Comber, Orchids Sumatra: 167, colour photo on p. 168. 2001; Cootes, Orchids Philipp.: 136 (incl. colour photo). 2001; Tetsana et al., Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 41: 52, fig. 2A–B. 2013; Phytotaxa 421: 48, fig. 16C. 2019.— Stichorkis elegans (Lindl.) Marg., Szlach. & Kułak, Acta Soc. Bot. Poloniae 77: 38. 2008. [For full synonymy, see Tetsana et al., Phytotaxa 421: 48. 2019]. Fig. 433; Plate LXVIII: 2.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Epiphytic or epilithic plant with pseudobulbs well-spaced on a somewhat elongated rhizome. Pseudobulbs erect, ovoid, 3–3.5 cm long, 1.5–1.8 cm in maximum diameter. Foliage leaves 2–3 per pseudobulb, articulate, conduplicate, subsessile, lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, 7–12.5 by 1.8–2.5 cm, coriaceous, obscurely veined (mid-vein recognizable). Inflorescence erect, 15–24 cm long, lax, many-flowered; peduncle slender, angular-terete, slightly ridged; floral bracts suberect, lanceolate, 4–5.7 mm long. Flowers very pale whitish green with dull orange labellum, non-resupinate. Sepals recurved; dorsal sepal lanceolate-oblong, acute, 3.4–4.8 by 1.5–1.9 mm, 3-veined (rarely 4-veined); lateral sepals not twisted, obliquely oblong-elliptic, subacute, 3.8–5 by 1.5–2.1 mm, 3-veined (rarely 4-veined). Petals obliquely linear, obtuse, 4–5 by 0.5–0.8 mm, 1-veined, with recurved margins. Labellum uniformly light orange to orange-red; suberect, around the middle abruptly recurved, the distal part beyond the bend straight to slightly recurved, in lateral view describing an acute to right angle to the proximal part; obovate-oblong, apically bilobed, apiculate, 3.5–4.2 by 1.8–2 mm, bearing a pair of low, subbasal, tooth-like calli; side veins of the outermost longitudinal veins not reaching the labellum margin; margin crenate, ciliate (glabrous towards the base of labellum). Column greenish white, 2.7–3 mm long, slender, incurved, front margins distally developed into rounded keels; anther whitish green, broadly ovate in upper view, acute in front. Ovary (including pedicel) whitish green, with 6 longitudinal ridges, 3.5–3.8 mm long.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Surat Thani (Khao Sok), Krabi (Sa Morakot), Trang (Khao Chet Yot).

Distribution : From the Andaman and Nicobar Islands across most of Malesia (type from Peninsular Malyasia) to Melanesia and W Polynesia, possibly also in Hainan.

Ecology : On mossy tree trunks and moist rocks in tropical evergreen rain forests and lower montane rain forests, ca 1,200 m alt. Flowering: October–January.

Vernacular : Klip muan dok ngam (กลีบม้วนดอกงาม).