Northern tom cats

This lithophyte grows in protected humid areas in open forests and rainforests around Brisbane. It is locally common and forms large mats entirely covering the host rock. 

This photo shows a typical example of the pendulous leaves covering the rock. All the large green leaves in this photo with the exception of a few fern leaves at the very top are of Liparis swenssonii.

It has large green smooth pseudobulbs to 30 mm by 30 mm with 1 or 2 dark green leaves to 25 cm by 25 mm. Racemes grow to 25 cm with up to 30 greenish yellow flowers. Flowers are 10 mm across with narrow decurved petals and sepals and orange labellum.

This photo shows a Liparis swenssonii growing amongst Dendrobium kingianum.