Agrostophyllum bimaculatum

Agrostophyllum bimaculatum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 268

Type: Schlechter 19435 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, K)

Epiphytic, erect, 30-45 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose, stems somewhat compressed, erect, straight, densely leafy, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, linear-ligulate, obtusely bilobulate, gradually somewhat narrowing from above the base to the apex, 9-14 cm long, near the middle 0.8-1 cm wide; leaf-sheaths at the apex on both sides produced into a subacute lobule. Capitulum terminal, many-flowered, 2-2.5 cm across. Peduncles short, covered with a few imbricating scales, 1-3 flowered. Bracts very small, apiculate, hyaline. Flowers erect or erect-patent, glabrous. Sepals oblong, narrowly obtuse, apiculum minute, about 0.5 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely linear-ligulate, narrowly obtuse, somewhat dilated at the base, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in basal part semiglobose, saccate, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, very small, obtuse; mid-lobe subreniform, 3-lobulate, margin slightly undulate-crenulate, 0.4 cm long, below the middle 4.5 mm wide, lobules rounded, obtuse, median lobule projecting well beyond the lateral lobules, in front of the opening of the mouth with a low, transverse, bilobulate lamella. Column towards the apex somewhat widened, at the apex in front produced into two obtuse, porrect swellings, in basal half in front slightly thickened. Anther ovate-cucullate, glabrous, narrowly obtuse. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, about 0.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).

Colours: Flower white, lip on the mid-lobe with two red spots. Column white with a red transverse band and red wings.

Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 400 m.

Flowering time in the wild: May.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-10M.JPG

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.

Note: Very similar to Agrostophyllum brachiatum J.J.Sm. and possibly conspecific.

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