Liparis angustilabris

Liparis angustilabris, commonly known as the twisted sphinx orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to northern Queensland. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with tapered pseudobulbs, each with a single linear leaf and up to thirty five pale green to yellowish flowers that have twisted sepals and petals. This orchid grows on trees and rocks in tropical North Queensland.

Twisted sphinx orchid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Subtribe: Malaxidinae
Genus: Liparis
Species:
L. angustilabris
Binomial name
Liparis angustilabris
Synonyms[1]

Description

Liparis angustilabris is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb with crowded, tapered pseudobulbs 300–600 mm (12–24 in), about 20 mm (0.8 in) wide and covered with leaf like bracts when young. Each pseudobulb has a single linear leaf 150–250 mm (5.9–9.8 in), 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. Between fifteen and thirty five pale green to yellowish flowers, 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.12 in) wide are borne on an often arching flowering stem 150–250 mm (5.9–9.8 in) long. The sepals and petals curve backwards towards the ovary and are about 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 2 mm (0.08 in) wide. The labellum is 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide with two ridges on its midline. Flowering occurs between March and July.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The twisted sphinx orchid was first formally described in 1864 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Sturmia angustilabris and published the description in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. The description was based on a collection made by John Dallachy near Rockingham Bay.[4][5] In 1978, Donald Blaxell changed the name to Liparis angustilabris.[6] The specific epithet (angustilabris) is derived from the Latin word angustus meaning "narrow"[7]:90 and labrum meaning "lip".[7]:487

Distribution and habitat

Liparis angustilabris grows on trees and rocks in rainforest, especially above 800 m (3,000 ft) rainforest between the Cedar Bay and Paluma Range National Parks.[2][3]

References
  1. "Liparis angustilabris". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 463. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. "Cestichis angustilabris". Trin keys: Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  4. "Sturmia angustilabris". APNI. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1864). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 164. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. "Liparis angustilabris". APNI. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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