Agrostophyllum neoguineense W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 98 (nom.nov.)
Basionym: Chitonochilus papuanum
Epiphytic, erect, several-stemmed, slender, 45-65 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, puberulous. Stems unbranched, at the base motre or less terete, towards the apex slightly laterally flattened, leafy, entirely covered with the tightly clasping leaf-sheaths. Leaves linear, narrowed towards the apex, apex setaceous-apiculate, thin-textured, 14-18 cm long, in the basal half 0.4-0.7 cm wide; leaf-sheaths glabrous, margins long connate, at the apex auriculate-truncate, with the margin often blackish. Inflorescence condensed, subcapitate-globose, many-flowered, branches and secondary branches abbreviated. Floral bracts oblong, rather obtuse, as long as the ovary. Flowers secund, erect or erect-patent. Median sepal erect, ovate-oblong, rather obtuse, somewhat concave, 0.4 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, almost as long as the median sepal. Petals erect, clasping the lip and the column, apex incurved over the anther, obliquely oblong-elliptic, acute, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip erect, tightly clasping the column, apex incurved over the anther, at the base concave, when flattened oblong-lanceolate, indistinctly 3-lobed, lateral lobes rounded, slightly pressed together, mid-lobe large, ovate, acute, the whole lip as long as the petals. Column straight, without a foot, slender, slightly widened towards the apex. Rostellum suberect, at the apex shallowly notched. Anther incumbent, rounded, in front shallowly notched. Pollinia 4, obliquely ovoid, at the base acute. Ovary subcylindrical, shortly pedicellate, 0.4 cm long, glabrous. (After Schlechter, 1905, as Chitonochilus papuanum Schltr.).
Colours: Flower pale yellowish.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 800-2150 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-75M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in shade.