Liparis L.C Richard
in Orch. Eur.. Annot. 21,30,38 (1817); Mem. Mus. Paris 4(1818), 43, 52 - nom, cons.

Introduction: In 1886 a total of one hundred and ten species were known. The number has meanwhile increased to two hundred and fifty with one author claiming as many as three hundred and fifty (Hawkes). The center of distribution is in the Asian tropics but they are also found in the northern temperate zones.

Derivation of genus name: Louis Richard established the genus in 1817 from the Greek liparos (shiny; greasy; oily) in reference to the smooth glossy sheen of the leaves in some species.

Type species: Ophrys loeselii L. ( Liparis loesellii (L.) Richard).

Characteristics of genus: Epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial herbs with fleshy, ovoid to cylindrical pseudobulbs; plicate or conduplicate leaves, terminal inflorescence which may be several to many-flowered. The small to medium-sized flowers are produced in colours ranging from white, yellow, green to orange and purple. Flowers often have strong, unpleasant odours.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus: The large number of species has been separated in to four sub-genera by Schlechter and these are again separated by sections.

Number of species in New Guinea: More than one hundred species occur in New Guinea.

Habitat: The medium-sized plants grow in various situations from rain forests and moist locations in open forests, on rocks and in open sites.

Conservation status: not threatened