Liparis habenarina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Common sphinx orchid | |
|---|---|
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| Illustration of Liparis habenarina by Lewis Roberts | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Subtribe: | Malaxidinae |
| Genus: | Liparis |
| Species: | L. habenarina |
| Binomial name | |
| Liparis habenarina | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Liparis habenarina, commonly known as the common sphinx orchid[2] or common hobgoblin orchid,[3] is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Australia. It is a deciduous, terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between eight and twenty-two brownish to purplish flowers with their lateral sepals joined at the base. It grows in the understorey of near-coastal forests.
Liparis habenarina is a terrestrial, deciduous herb with two underground pseudobulbs, each of which lasts for one season. There are usually three, thin, pleated, egg-shaped leaves 100–250 mm (4–10 in) and 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) wide with five obvious veins. Between eight and twenty two brownish to purplish flowers, 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide are borne on an upright flowering stem 150–600 mm (6–20 in) long. The dorsal sepal is 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and turns downward. The lateral sepals are 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide and joined to each other. The petals are a similar length but only about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and curve downwards. The labellum is egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and curves downwards. It is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide with two ridges near its base, a greenish centre and wavy edges. Flowering occurs between January and May.[3][4][5]
