Liparis simmondsii, commonly known as the coastal sprite orchid,[1] 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.
Liparis simmondsii is a terrestrial herb with between two and four curved, tapering stems, each NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Each stem has two or three egg-shaped, pleated leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with wavy edges on a stalk up to 20sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. Between three and fifteen deep reddish purple flowers, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The dorsal sepal is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and the lateral sepals are a similar length, about 4sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with their tips twisted. The petals are also a similar length but only about 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The labellum is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with a square-cut or rounded tip and turns sharply downwards. The column is green. Flowering occurs between December and February.[2] [3]
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.[4] The specific epithet (simmondsii) honours John Howard Simmonds.[5]
The 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.