Liparis saundersiana Rchb. f., the lip of the flowers is flat and translucid

For more information on this species native of Puerto Rico you can look here:  http://ricardogupi.blogspot.com/2015/01/liparis-saundersiana-rchb-f-terrestrial.html

Liparis saundersiana Rchb. f. a terrestrial orchid from Puerto Rico

In many years visiting the Maricao Forest I had never encountered this species.  Then in December of 2014, as I was looking at a plant of Epidendrum anceps, I noticed that there were several plants of this species a few feet away.  I could have easily missed the plants had I not looked at the right place, they are small and inconspicuous, a rosette of a few leaves flush with the leaf litter.    But once I had noticed the plants, I saw them at several places.  The plants must be deciduous since I have examined the places where they are growing many times and would have noticed them if they had been present.

For some reason all the plants I found were growing among fearsomely thorny plants and reaching them to take a photo was not that easy.  The largest group of plants was nested among a clump of Pitcairnia bromeliads.  A few plants here and there were under some thorny vines.  As I stepped in to take a photo a large thorn stabbed me on the foot through the shoe.  It was very painful.  The sacrifices one makes to get a photo!

All the plants I saw were producing seed pods and seemed in good health.  The plants are quite safe in their habitat as it is unlikely anyone will collect them and they live in a protected area.     Next year when I visit them I will wear thorn resistant clothes and footwear!

Liparis nervosa (Thungberg) Lindley 1830

Seed capsules starting their development

This is a common orchid in the understory of wet and moist forests from low to high elevations, it is widespread except along the south coast of Puerto Rico.¹  This plant is cosmopolitan, that is it is found all over the world. Although this is a relatively common plant it is very rare to see it in local orchid collections, only people that grow native orchids usually show any interest on it and of those it is only the most dedicated and hardcore that keep them.

The flowers are small and relatively inconspicuous.  You need a magnifying lens to truly appreciate their beauty.  All the plants that I have seen in the wild have been growing terrestrially in the gently sloping sides of the local haystack hills.  

¹ Ackerman, James D.  1995.  An orchid flora of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.