Taeniophyllum ferox Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1038
Type: Schlechter 17145 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte without leaves. Roots flexuose, strongly flattened, up to 30 cm long, 0.4-0.5 cm wide. Inflorescence including the densely muricate-hispid peduncle up to 3.5 cm long, densely few-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, acute, much shorter than the ovary. Sepals oblong, obtuse, outside muricate, 0.5 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely subspathulate-ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, almost as long as the sepals. Lip at the base semiorbicular, 3-lobed above the middle, as long as the petals, between the tips of the lateral lobes 0.4 cm wide, in the centre with a trapezoid thickening extending to the base of the mid-lobe; lateral lobes triangular, obtuse; mid-lobe twice as long, semiorbicular, apiculate; spur obovoid, broadly obtuse, about as long as the lip. Column short; rostellum very large, proboscis-like; anther square-cucullate, short-rostrate; pollinia obovoid; stipe 5 times as long, thin, widened towards the apex; viscidium minute, rounded. Ovary densely muricate, subsessile, 0.35 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower greenish with white tips.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 676-75M.JPG.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.