Agrostophyllum parviflorum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 3
Type: Versteeg 1043 (holo BO; iso L)
Stems close together, laterally compressed, many-leaved, 46 cm long. Leaves patent, at the base half-twisted, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, shortly bilobulate, mucronate, at the base somewhat narrowed, conduplicate, above grooved along the midrib, keeled below, coriaceous, 8.5-13 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide, upper and lower leaves smaller; sheaths much longer than the internodes, conduplicate, with black margins, apex on either side with a triangular tooth, 6-7 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, nodding, densely capitate, semiglobose, 3.5 cm diam., 2 cm high, surrounded with broad bracts, composed of very many short, 2-3-flowered spikes. Peduncles 0.5-0.6 cm long, covered with large sheaths tubular at the base, 0.7-0.8 cm long. Floral bracts oblong, strongly concave, obtuse, membranous, 0.5-0.7 cm long. Flowers small, 0.3 cm diam. Median sepal ovate, outside near the apex conical-apiculate, convex, 1-nerved, 0.27 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, conical-acuminate, dorsally keeled, 1-nerved, 0.26 cm long, 0.17 cm wide. Petals elliptic-oblong, somewhat acute, convex, 1-nerved, 0.24 cm long, 0.1 cm wide. Lip parallel to the column, weakly 3-lobed, 0.3 cm long, constricted at 1/3 above the base, hypochile saccate, semiglobose, inside with 5 small longitudinal keels, with a notched transverse lamella separated from the epichile; epichile ovate, narrowly obtuse, concave, 5-nerved, surpassing the column, 0.15 cm wide. Column straight, at the base obliquely thickened, 0.2 cm long, filament and auricles conical-tooth-like. Pollinia 8. Stigma transverse, lower margin raised. Ovary triangular, 6-grooved, 0.65 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 0-1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, May, July.
Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-83M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in shade.