Agrostophyllum macrocephalum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 270
Type: Schlechter 19060 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, K)
Epiphytic, erect, robust, up to 100 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems straight or almost straight, almost terete, densely leafy, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate-ligulate, acute, minutely apiculate, up to 27 cm long, below the middle 2.5-3 cm wide; leaf-sheaths at the apex on either side obtusely angular. Capitulum up to 8 cm across, very many-flowered, enveloped by several sheaths, peduncles up to 3 cm long, covered with a few scales, few-flowered. Floral bracts very small, hyaline, apiculate. Flowers erect or erect-patent. Sepals ovate, apiculate or shortly acuminate, glabrous, 0.75 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat decurrent. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, glabrous, margin towards the apex subdenticulate. Lip in basal part semiglobose-saccate, 3-lobed; lateral lobes very short, broadly obtuse, erect; mid-lobe large, subreniform, above the middle 3-lobulate, margins irregularly serrate-dentate, 0.5 cm long, below the middle 0.7 cm wide, lobules rounded, median lobule extending well beyond the lateral lobules, semi-orbicular, apex shallowly emarginate, in front of the mouth of the sac with a transverse, low lamella with denticulate margin; sac 0.4 cm long. Column slightly thickened, next to the stigma somewhat swollen, below the stigma adorned with a decurved, fleshy, semi-orbicular projection, glabrous, in basal half in front slightly swollen. Anther broadly rhombic-ovate, cucullate, apiculate, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, about 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower whitewith a yellos spot at the base of the lip.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1250-1600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-65M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.