THE ORCHIDS OF HAWAII 353 



although occasionally small clumps containing four to six or 

 more plants maj^ be found. 



Occurring in the same habitats as Anoedochilus, namely the 

 humid lower forest zone of all the islands, is the single native 

 species of Liparis, L. Hawaiiensis Mann. Although not infre- 

 quent in the lower forest, this epiphytic orchid also inhabits the 

 middle forests, and is to be found on slopes and ridges much 

 higher than those occupied by Anoectochilus. The Hawaiian 

 "Twayblade" grows chiefly on the horizontal mossy branches 

 of the old trees, and in humus-filled crotches, but occasionally 

 is met on mossy ground in the rain forest. In such situations 

 it grows not in the soil proper, but in the dense vegetative cover- 

 ing of mosses, liverworts, lichens, and lesser ferns. 



The genus Liparis comprises over 120 species, scattered over 

 the tropic and temperate regions of the entire world. The 

 generic name means fat or shining, and refers to the shining 

 fleshy leaves. In our species the stems are thickened at the 

 base into small, oval pseudo-bulbs, sheathed by scales. There 

 are two large basal leaves, hence the English name ''tway- 

 blade." The stem also bears a few leaf-like scales. The basal 

 leaves are glossy, ovate or oblong, 8 to 25 cm. long by 3 to 9 

 cm. broad. The apex is somewhat obtuse; the base is con- 

 tracted and nearly petiolate. The numerous fine parallel veins 

 spring from the entire length of the midrib. 



The inflorescence is tall but scarcely show^. The angled 

 scape rises to a height of 1.3 to 4.5 dm. It bears three to ten 

 delicate greenish -white flowers in its upper portion; the lower 

 part is naked. The twisted pedicels are 6 or 7 mm. long; the 

 ovate bracts are about half as long as the pedicels. A detailed 

 characterization of the flower, revised from Hillebrand, follows: 



Sepals: Ascending; linear or narrow lanceolate; 8 to 10 mm. long. 



Petals: A little shorter than the sepals; filiform; spreading. 



Lip: As long as the petals; thin membranaceous; ascending below and chan- • 

 nelled or folded, but without tubercles. The lip terminates in a flat, entire 

 oblong or obovate blade. 



Column: Erect, incurved, slender; Avinged at the top; about half as long as 

 the sepals, and continuous with the ovary. 



Anther: Terminal, lid-like. 



