Taeniophyllum pallidum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1019
Type: Schlechter 16179 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, leafless, small; roots flattened, slightly flexuose, 0.15-0.25 cm wide, to 25 cm long. Inflorescences several, densely 4-15-flowered, distichous; including the hair-like peduncle 1-2 cm long. Floral bracts minute, deltoid, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers very small, opening in succession; glabrous. Sepals ligulate, obtuse, c. 0.3 cm long. Lateral sepals subobtuse. Petals narrowly lanceolate, acute, distinctly shorter than the sepals. Lip ovate-lanceolate, somewhat narrowed towards the apex, obtuse, at the apex rather thick; spur oblongoid-cylindrical, more than half as long as the lip. Column very short; rostellum linear, bidentate. Anther rounded-cucullate, linear-rostrate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe linear, gradually narrowed towards the base, almost twice as long as the pollinia; viscidium lanceolate, turned backwards, as long as the pollinia. Ovary subsessile, glabrous, c. 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flowers very pale yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 676-151M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.