Podochilus filiformis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 331
Type: Schlechter 17438 (B, lost); 19374 (B, lost; BO, K, L)
Delicate Epiphytic, decumbent, up to 30 cm long. Rhizome stem-like; roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Stems and branches filiform, elongated, flexuose, densely leafy, entirely covered with the leaf-sheaths. Leaves linear, acute, twisted, 0.3-0.5 cm long, near the middle 0.03-0.04 cm wide, glabrous. Inflorescences from the apices of the braches, short, 1- to 3-flowered, slightly more than half as long as the upper leaves. Floral bracts ovate, acuminate, shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Sepals broadly ovate, apiculate, 0.23 cm long. Later sepals oblique, at the base along the front margins expanded and connate; mentum short, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip oblong-cuneate, 0.35 cm long, near the apex about 0.17 cm wide, at the base 0.08 cm wide, at the apex notched with a minute apicule, margins in the middle incurved, in apical half slightly undulate, lip at the base with a quadrangular, very small, truncate appendage. Column short, in the middle distinctly dilated. Column-foot rather short; rostellum tridentate with a minute median tooth. Anther broadly ovate-cordate, umbonate, in front shortly 2-apiculate; pollinia obliquely clavate; stipes as long as the pollinia, cucullate-concave, narrowed at the base; viscidium oblong. Ovary and pedicel subclavate, 0.2 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 450 to 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, May.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 568-47M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.