Taeniophyllum tamianum J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 13 (1914) 74
Type: Gjellerup 652 (holo BO)
Stem short, 1.2 cm long, enveloped in erect fibres. Roots numerous, elongated, linear, flattened, 30 cm long, when dried to 0.38 cm wide. Inflorescences short, producing flowers for a long time; peduncle filiform, 1.15-1.25 cm long, peduncle-scales very small, c. 3, tubular; rachis flexuose, glabrous, 2.2-3.5 cm long, internodes semiterete, at the apex slightly thickened, oblique, 0.25-0.3 cm long. Floral bracts distichous, patent, at the base shortly tubular, clasping the rachis, acuminate, concave, keeled, dorsally 0.15 cm long. Flowers c. 2.5 cm diam. Sepals somewhat fleshy, strongly channelled. Median sepal linear, gradually narrowed, acute, 3-nerved, 1.45 by 0.23 cm. Lateral sepals similar to the median sepal but oblique, 0.23 cm wide. Petals obliquely lanceolate, gradually caudate-acuminate, acute, channelled, especially in the apical part with incurved margins, in the basal part ciliolate, 3-nerved, somewhat fleshy, 1.3 by 0.23 cm. Lip almost entire, spurred, laxly flexuose, strongly concave, in total 1.47 cm long, to the apex of the ovary 1.1 cm long, near the base with two rounded thickenings, in the apical part with incurved margins, apex tubular-subulate; blade when flattened elongated-triangular, 1.1 cm long, at the base 0.4 cm wide, basal angles rounded, apex long acuminate; spur pointing backwards, making an acute angle with the ovary, clavate, laterally flattened, dorsally almost straight, at the apex underneath obliquely inflated, broadly obtuse, the sides slightly concave, 0.45 cm long, at the apex 0.23 cm diam. Column very short, thick, 0.17 cm long and wide, at the apex (without anther) obliquely truncate 3-lobed; clinandrium strongly concave; rostellum in front bipartite, the segments divergent, triangular, acute, falcate, dorsally shortly extended; stigma large; rostellum deflexed, bilobed, the lobes similar to the clinandrium. Anther cucullate, ovate, at the base truncate, triangular-acuminate, narrowly obtuse, at the apex slightly recurved, slightly more than 0.1 cm long; pollinia obliquely elliptic, inside obliquely flattened and slightly concave, 0.02 cm long. Ovary pedicellate, 6-grooved, slightly furfuraceous-punctate, 0.6 cm long. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Flower yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 10 to 100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, July, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia). See map: 676-201M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.