Agrostophyllum sepikanum Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 58 (1922) 76
Type: Ledermann 7856 (holo B, lost); para: Ledermann 12406; 9249
Epiphytic, erect, 15-25 cm high. Rhizome very short. Stems compressed, 9-15 cm long, entirely covered with the compressed leaf-sheaths, base covered with cataphylls, in upper half 4-5-leaved. Leaves erect-patent, relatively thin-textured, obliquely lanceolate-oblong, 6-10 by 1.7-2.1 cm, obliquely and shortly acuminate, base shortly petiolate-contracted. Floral head semiglobose, terminal, 2-3 cm across, surrounded by short scales, sessile. Inflorescences several, 1-flowered. Floral bracts elliptic, acuminate, only slightly longer than the ovary. Sepals elliptic, 0.6 cm long, shortly acuminate, outside sparsely furfuraceous, lateral sepals patent, oblique, at the base along the front margin somewhat dilated. Petals erect-patent, obliquely obovate-spathulate, 0.5 cm long, obtuse, a little shorter than the sepals. Lip at the base saccate-concave, contracted, obreniform-flabellate, 0.9 by 0.75 cm, in front broadly obtuse and very shortly bilobed, margin entire, above the base with an erect, quadrangular, retuse, very minutely papillose lamella. Column rather thick, 0.4 cm long, , upper half in front semiglobose-thickened; rostellum porrect-ascending, relatively large. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, almost 0.6 cm long, furfuraceous. (After Schlechter, 1922).
Colours: Flower pure white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 50-1500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-96M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.
Note: Related to Agrostophyllum compressum Schltr.