Liparis simmondsii

Liparis simmondsii, commonly known as coastal sprite orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Queensland. It is a terrestrial orchid with two or three egg-shaped leaves and between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers with a green column. It grows in near-coastal rainforest.

Description

Liparis simmondsii is a terrestrial herb with between two and four curved, tapering stems, each and wide. Each stem has two or three egg-shaped, pleated leaves long and wide with wavy edges on a stalk up to long. Between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers, long and wide are borne on a flowering stem long. The dorsal sepal is long, about wide and the lateral sepals are a similar length, about wide with their tips twisted. The petals are also a similar length but only about wide. The labellum is long and wide with a square-cut or rounded tip and turns sharply downwards. The column is green. Flowering occurs between December and February.

Taxonomy and naming

Liparis simmondsii was first formally described in 1891 by Frederick Manson Bailey and the description was published in the Department of Agriculture Queensland, Botany Bulletin. The specific epithet honours John Howard Simmonds.

Distribution and habitat

Coastal sprite orchid grows in coastal rainforest between Fraser Island and Maroochydore. There is a doubtful record from the upper Brunswick River in northern New South Wales.