Agrostophyllum cycloglossum

Agrostophyllum cycloglossum Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 77

Type: Ledermann 11884 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, erect or suberect, 30-40 cm high. Rhizome very short. Stems unbranched, compressed, 18-25 by 1 cm, covered with tightly clasping, erect-patent, compressed leaf-sheaths, at the very base covered with cataphylls, 5-7-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, ligulate, 11-17 by 1.8-2.3 cm, at the apex shortly and rather obtusely acuminate, base cuneate-attenuate, relatively thin-textured. Floral head subglobose, sessile, 3.5 cm across, inflorescences 1-flowered. Floral bracts elliptic-cucullate, shortly acuminate, almost as long as the ovary. Sepals elliptic, 0.6 cm long, shortly acuminate, outside sparsely furfuraceous. Lateral sepals patent, oblique, at the base along the front margin widened. Petals erect-patent, obliquely ligulate, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base saccate-contracted, the spur 0.3 cm long, blade suborbicular, 0.5 by 0.6 cm, obtusely apiculate, margin slightly crenulate, glabrous, at the base with an erect, transversely quadrangular, high, emarginate, papillose lamella. Column rather thick, 0.3 cm long, below the stigma callose-lobed, in basal half. cushion-like-thickened, rostellum short, triangular, decurved. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, 0.7 cm long, sparsely furfuraceous. (After Schlechter, 1922).

Colours: Flower ivory white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in upper montane forest. Altitude 2070 m.

Flowering time in the wild: June.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-28M.JPG

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

Note: Related to Agrostophyllum compressum Schltr.

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