Taeniophyllum robustum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1035
Type: Schlechter 18755 (holo B, lost; iso BO, L)
Epiphyte without leaves, stout. Roots flexuose, strongly flattened, to more than 50 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm wide. Inflorescence to 30 cm long, very densely muricate-villose; rachis short, very densely many-flowered, turned to all sides. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous except for the ovary. Sepals oblong, obtuse, 0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique; petals obliquely suborbicular, elliptic, obtuse, somewhat shorter than the sepals. Lip in outline square-elliptic, 3-lobed in apical third, as long as the petals, with a narrow cavity extending from the mouth of the spur to the middle of the lip, decurrent towards the middle; lateral lobes short, semi-square, obtuse; mid-lobe reniform, broadly obtuse, fleshy-swollen, a little narrower than the middle part of the lip; spur cylindrical, curved, deflexed, below the apex somewhat dilated, subacute, 1.8 cm long. Column very short; rostellum hammer-shaped. Anther subcordate, cucullate, long-rostrate; pollinia oblique obovoid; stipe 3 times longer, at the base thin, gradually widened; viscidium ligulate, obtuse, turned backwards, large. Ovary densely muriculate-villose, pedicellate, c. 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower orange-yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1500 to 3100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, April, June, August, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 676-182M.JPG.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.