Liparis remota

Liparis remota, the minute forest orchid, is usually a terrestrial herb, rarely epiphytic or lithophytic, reaching heights around 20 cm. Its pseudobulbs, conical to ovoid in shape are spaced above-ground by creeping stems bearing membranous cataphylls.

The plant has three, sheathing, unequal basal leaves, large compared to the small pointed ones spaced on the scape and grading into the floral bracts. The basal leaves are thinly textured, their curving veins prominent on the lower surfaces. They become up to 10 cm long, 4,5 cm wide.

The species distribution in the east of South Africa ranges from the Little Karoo and southern Cape coast to KwaZulu-Natal. The habitat is forest and thicket shade, among rocks and sometimes on trees. The plants grow at elevations from near sea-level to 1400 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; iSpot; www.africanorchids.dk; www.redlist.sanbi.org).