Liparis delicatula - Delicate Liparis

Delicate Liparis is a mini-miniature sized, tree-dwelling orchid with densely arranged, oblong to cylindric-spindle-shaped pseudobulbs carrying 2 to 3, spoon-shaped-oblong to oblong-lanceshaped, papery, articulate, pointed and apiculate apically leaves, contracted below into the short, stalked base. The plant blooms in the winter on an erect, upper part sometimes narrowly winged, 4-10 cm long, several to 10 flowered inflorescence with a few sterile bracts and ovate-lanceshaped floral bracts. Flowers are white; flower-stalk and ovary 3-4 mm. Dorsal sepal is ovate-oblong, 2.5-3 x 1.5-1.8 mm, below carinate, tip blunt; lateral sepals ovate or ovate-elliptic, slightly oblique, about 2 mm wide. Petals are narrowly linear-lanceshaped, 2.5-3 x about 0.5 mm. Lip is broadly elliptic or round, about 2.5 mm, prominently folded and twisted on both sides below middle, apical half strongly reflexed, tip almost flat or rounded, shortly with a tail. Delicate Liparis is found in NE India, N Laos, Vietnam, China, at altitudes of 500-2900 m. Flowering: December-February.