Taeniophyllum fragrans Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1039
Type: Schlechter 17819 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, leafless; roots flexuose, strongly flattened, to more than 60 cm long, 0.25-0.3 cm wide. Inflorescence rather laxly 3-5-flowered; including the slender, minutely and densely hispid peduncle up to 6 cm long. Floral bracts deltoid, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous except for the ovary, fragrant. Sepals oblong, apiculate, somewhat narrowed towards the base, 1.4 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals similar to the lateral sepals but a little shorter, oblique, subacute. Lip in outline oblong, in the middle indistinctly 3-lobed, as long as the petals; lateral lobes very short; mid-lobe narrow, oblong, in the apical half in the middle with a cavity, near the apex fleshy-swollen; mouth of the spur in a depression in the centre of the lip; spur cylindrical, above the middle somewhat swollen, c. 1 cm long. Column very short; rostellum curved, proboscis-like, very long. Anther cucullate, short-rostrate; pollinia obliquely obovoid; stipe 6 times longer, very thin, at the apex abruptly cup-like-dilated, viscidium minute. Ovary minutely papillose, sessile, cylindrical, c. 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower white, on the lip with or without four light violet oblong spots.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest; 500 to 900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 676-82M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.