Agrostophyllum compressum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 274
Type: Schlechter 18669 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect or patent, up to 45 cm long. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose. Stems compressed, densely 7-10-leaved, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent or erect, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, at the base gradually subpetiolate-narrowed, glabrous, 12-20 cm long, near the middle 2-3 cm wide; leaf-sheaths close fitting, at the apex on either side with a small, triangular, acute, erect tooth. Capitulum many-flowered, semiglobose, erect, 3-4 cm across, at first enveloped by several sheaths. Peduncles short, covered with a few imbricating scales, 1-flowered. Bract very small, apiculate, hyaline. Flowers erect or suberect. Median sepal broadly elliptic, apiculate, glabrous, 6.5 mm long. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, apiculate, decurrent at the base, 7 mm long. Petals obliquely oblong, obtuse, somewhat dilated towards the base, glabrous, sepals a little shorter than the sepals. Lip in basal part quadrate-cucullate, broadly obtuse, 3.5 mm long; blade very broadly cuneate, rounded in front, apex slightly emarginate, minutely apiculate, 5.5 mm long, above the middle 0.8 cm wide, in front of the opening of the sac with an erect lamella which is bifid at the apex. Column about half as long as the lip, glabrous, straight, below the stigma on either side with an obtuse, decurved callus, in front adorned with a carnose, disc-shaped, rounded callus. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, about 8 mm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower pure white with a yellow spot on the lip.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-17M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.