Agrostophyllum grandiflorum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 274
Type: Schlechter 18558 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect or patent, up to 25 cm long. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, shortly villose. Stems compressed, laxly 6-8-leaved, entirely covered by the leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect-patent, narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate-ligulate, acute, at the base narrowed to a c. 1 cm long petiole, 7.5-16 cm long, near the middle 1.2-1.6 cm wide; leaf-sheaths close-fitting, at the apex on either side with a small, triangular, acute tooth. Capitulum up to 20-flowered, 2-3 cm across, enveloped by several sheaths, somewhat nodding. Peduncles short, covered with imbricating scales, 1-flowered. Bract very small, apiculate, hyaline. Flowers erect. Sepals ovate, apiculate, glabrous, 0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, somewhat decurrent. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, narrowly obtuse, somewhat dilated at the base. Lip in basal part quadrate-saccate, very weakly 3-lobed; lateral lobes hardly developed; mid-lobe suborbicular, cuneate, apex retuse, margin minutely undulate, 6.5 mm long, near the middle 0.8 cm wide, in front of the opening of the sac with a lamella of which the apex is incurved and shortly 4-dentate, sac 0.4 cm long. Column short, less than half as long as the lip, below the stigma adorned with a disc-shaped, suborbicular, fleshy callus. Anther ovate-cucullate, acute. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, about 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Flower pure white with a golden yellow spot on the lip.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-46M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in light shade.
Note: Related to Agrostophyllum compressum Schltr.