Agrostophyllum fragrans

Agrostophyllum fragrans Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 275

Type: Schlechter 18691 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, patent, up to 35 cm long. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose. Stems more or less flexuose, somewhat compressed, densely leafy, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, ligulate, somewhat narrowed towards the apex, obtuse, subbilobulate, 2.5-3.7 cm long, below the middle 0.7-0.9 cm wide; leaf-sheaths close-fitting, at the apex on both sides with a linear, slightly incurved, small tooth. Capitulum subglobose, 2-2.5 cm across, at first enveloped by several sheaths. Peduncles short, covered with a few imbricating scales, 1-flowered. Bract very small, apiculate, hyaline. Flowers erect, highly fragrant. Sepals oblong, apiculate, glabrous. Median sepal 5.5 mm long. Lateral sepals 6 mm long, oblique, somewhat decurrent at the base. Petals somewhat smaller than the sepals, obliquely ligulate-oblong, obtuse, glabrous. Lip entire, in basal part ligulate-unguiculate, subsaccate-cucullate, widened into a flabellate-reniform blade, apex subretuse, 0.8 cm long, claw 0.3 cm wide; blade above the base 7.5 mm wide. Column short, somewhat thickened, glabrous, the sides near the stigma almost wing-like dilated, in front in basal half distinctly swollen, lower margin of stigma thickened. Anther ovate-cucullate, glabrous, acute, dorsally adorned with a very small callosity. Ovary cylindrical, sessile, glabrous, about 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).

Colours: Flower white with a golden yellow spot at the base of the mid-lobe.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: November.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-41M.JPG

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.

Note: Related to Agrostophyllum appendiculoides Schltr., Agrostophyllum verruciferum Schltr., Agrostophyllum fibrosum J.J.Sm. and Agrostophyllum patentissimum J.J.Sm.

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