The Brisbane OS reports that liniaris is one of seven species in the genus Isochilus which are lowland epiphytes primarily found in Central America, from Cuba and Mexico to Argentina. The genus is characterised by slender canelike stems with narrow distichous (in pairs on opposite sides of the stem) flat leaves and small sessile (having no stalk, but growing directly on the stem) tube flowers carried at the tip of the cane. Isochilus linearis is widespread and found in the lowlands from Mexico to Panama and the West Indies, and from Venezuela to Argentina on the eastern side of South America. It grows into dense clumps of multiple plants. The slender stems start vertically, but will arch as they grow up to their full length of 80cm (30 inches). The flowers of this orchid are small tubes (less than 1cm in length) of a light red-purple colour, but can vary from almost white to dark red-purple. The flowers occur in strings along the tip of the stems creating a very impressive display considering the small size of the individual flower.

This species is fairly easy to grow in cultivation. It grows happily in a Cattleya mix where it will run across the surface sending up a new slender cane every few millimetres forming a dense clump of fine arching canes. It requires water all year round with fairly high light levels, similar to that for cattleyas.