Agrostophyllum niveum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 266
Type: Schlechter 17967 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, up to 70 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stems somewhat compressed, erect, straight, densely leafy, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect, linear-ligulate, apex unequally bicuspidate, glabrous, 12-27 cm long, near the middle 1.2-1.4 cm wide, upper ones much overtopping the stem; leaf-sheaths at the apex laterally on both sides obtusely angulate (weakly auriculate), without teeth. Capitulum several-to many-flowered, slightly incurved, about 2.2 cm across, enveloped by several apiculate sheaths. Peduncles short, covered with a few clasping scales, 1-flowered. Bract very small, apiculate, hyaline. Flowers erect. Median sepal broadly ovate, narrowly obtuse, glabrous, 5.5 mm long. Lateral sepals oblique, oblong, apiculate, 6.5 mm long, somewhat decurrent at the base. Petals ligulate-oblong, obtuse, glabrous, margin slightly undulate. Lip 0.4 cm long, in basal part oblong-saccate; lateral lobes almost lacking; blade subreniform, margin slightly undulate, very shortly and obtusely subapiculate, 0.3 cm long, in the middle 0.4 cm wide, at the opening of the sac with an ascending, glabrous lamella with slightly incurved, obtusely bilobulate apex. Column short, somewhat thickened, scarcely half as long as the ovary, in front towards the base swollen, below the stigma on both sides adorned with an obtuse callosity, in front provided with a subreniform, retuse, fleshy, slightly decurved scale. Anther suborbicular-cucullate, obtusely apiculate, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, about 0.6 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower pure white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-77M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm-intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.