What is "liparis"

liparis \liparis\ n. (Bot.) an orchid of the genus Liparis having few leaves and usually fairly small yellow-green or dull purple flowers in terminal racemes.

2. (Zool.) The type genus of the Liparididae, consisting of certain of the snailfishes.

Syn: genus Liparis.

1. n. an orchid of the genus Liparis having few leaves and usually fairly small yellow-green or dull purple flowers in terminal racemes

2. type genus of the Liparididae: snailfishes [syn: genus Liparis]

Liparis is a genus of orchids, commonly known as widelip orchid or false twayblade. It comprises over 200 species with cosmopolitan distribution, found on all continents except Antarctica and on many oceanic islands. Most species bear dull-coloured, purplish flowers in a terminal spike.

Liparis may refer to:

• Liparis (amphipod), an invalid synonym of the skeleton shrimp genus Caprella
• Liparis (fish), a genus of snailfishes
• Liparis (plant), a genus of orchids

Liparis is a large genus of snailfish from the northern hemisphere. They are very common in temperate and cold waters. Chernova (2008) has proposed that the genus should be subdivided into five subgenera: Liparis, Neoliparis, Lycocara, Careliparis, and Lyoliparis.