Agrostophyllum uniflorum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 129
Type: Schlechter 14057 (holo B, lost; iso K)
Epiphytic, erect many-stemmed, tufted, 15-25 cm high. Roots filiform, flexuose, elongated, glabrous. Stems slender, unbranched, slightly laterally flattened, many-leaved, entirely covered by the tightly clasping leaf-sheaths. Leaves suberect, distichous, narrowly linear, apex unequally 3-cuspidate, 2.5-5.5 cm long, near the middle ca. 0.2 cm wide. Flowers terminal. Bracts lanceolate, acute, a little shorter than the ovary. Median sepal oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals as long as the median sepal, obliquely lanceolate, acuminate. Petals obliquely linear, shortly acuminate, slightly constricted in the middle, 0.6 cm long. Lip with the epichile at the base broadly cuneate, rhomboid-3-lobed, lateral lobes indistinct, margin minutely crenulate, mid-lobe shortly acuminate, epichile 0.7 cm long, near the middle 0.7 cm wide; sac [hypochile] subglobose, short, appendage at the mouth of the sac erect, rhomboid, with emarginate apex. Column erect, below the stigma with a flattened, rounded callus. Anther rounded, apex shortly acuminate; pollinia 8, falcate, clavate, viscidium oblanceolate, very small. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flower pure white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 850-2800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, May, June, September, October, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 24-108M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate to cool growing epiphyte, keep in shade.
Note: A very common and variable species.