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Luisia corrugata D.L.Jones, Austral. Orchid. Res. 5: 84-85, f.3.16 (21 Dec. 2006). Type: Northern Territory. Jump-up Jungle, Melville Island, 1 Feb. 1984, D.L. Jones 1336 (holo DNA 22948).
Occurs in the northern parts of Northern Territory and on Melville Island.
Altitude: 0-50 m.
Epiphytic or lithophytic herb forming straggling or tangled clumps. Stems erect to semi-pendulous, 10-40 cm long, wiry. Leaves 2-10, scattered along stem, widely spaced, erect to pendulous, distichous, sessile, bases sheathing stem; lamina terete, 5-20 cm x 0.4-0.5 cm wide, dark green, often with blackish markings, rigid, apex acute to mucronate. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, erect, short, 5-15 mm long, emerging opposite a leaf, persistent, flowering repeatedly and extending with age swollen at apex, with numerous overlapping hairy bracts; pedicels short, incurved, thick. Flowers 1-3, resupinate, erect to nodding or recurved, 6-8 mm x 7-9 mm, green with dark red prominently marked labellum. Sepals sparsely hairy, petals glabrous; sepals and petals usually not opening widely. Dorsal sepal incurved, ovate to oblong, 6 mm x 2.5 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals widely divergent, broadly ovate to narrowly oblong, 6 mm x 2.5 mm, externally ridged, apex cymbiform. Petals incurved, narrowly oblong to obovate, 7 mm x 2 mm. Labellum 7 mm x 7 mm, without basal flanges, expanding into thick fleshy cordate blade with prominent radiating grooves or wrinkles. Column 4 mm long, porrect from end of ovary. Capsules erect, oblong to ellipsoid, 30- 35 mm long, sparsely hairy, dehiscent.
Occurs in coastal forests and rainforests in situations of bright light growing on rough-barked trees. Older plants can form large untidy clumps.
Highly localised.
Flowering period: November-April.
Until recently confused with Luisia teretifolia, which is from Guam.
