Agrostophyllum montanum

Agrostophyllum montanum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 265

Type: Schlechter 18201 (holo B, lost)

Epiphytic, erect, 18-30 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose. Stems erect, densely leafy, entirely covered by the compressed leaf-sheaths, slender. Leaves erect-patent, linear, apex distinctly bicuspidate, 4-6 cm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide, sheaths close-fitting, gradually passing into the blade, without teeth, glabrous. Capitulum 1.3-1.5 cm across, slightly incurved, several-flowered, enveloped by several sheaths. Peduncles short, 1-flowered, covered with a few imbricating scales. Bract very small, apiculate. Flowers erect-patent. Sepals ovate-oblong, acuminate, glabrous, 6.5 mm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat decurrent. Petals obliquely ligulate, obtuse, glabrous, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip 7.5 mm long, in basal part semiglobose-saccate, with a transverse, small, glabrous, obtusely, bilobulate lamella in front of the opening of the short sac, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, short, broadly obtuse, rounded; mid-lobe 6 mm long, in the middle 0.7 cm wide, very broadly rhombic, in apical third 3-lobulate, lobules semiorbicular, broadly obtuse, margins slightly undulate, distinctly overtopping the lateral lobes. Column slightly more than half as long as the lip, straight, glabrous, below the stigma on both sides adorned with a patent, fleshy callosity, in front with a reniform, fleshy callus which is sulcate along the median. Anther ovate-cucullate, in front narrowly obtuse, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).

Colours: Flower white, lip at the base with a golden yellow spot.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1200 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-72M.JPG

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.

Note: In the affinity of Agrostophyllum uniflorum Schltr.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)