Taeniophyllum physodes Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 1030
Type: Schlechter 19303 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte without leaves. Roots flexuose, up to 20 cm long, 0.15 cm wide. Inflorescence almost sessile, laxly 5- to 10-flowered, flexuose, densely and minutely verruculose. Floral bracts deltoid, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers glabrous. Sepals elliptic, obtuse, along the mid-vein obtusely keeled, slightly verruculose, 0.3 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong, subobtuse, keeled outside, almost as long as the sepals. Lip semiglobose-cucullate, as long as the sepals, in the middle 0.3 cm wide, in front with an almost lobe-like apicule; spur at the base narrowed, subglobose-inflated, broadly obtuse, as long as the sepals, above the middle 0.25 cm wide. Column very short, thick. Anther rounded-cucullate, obtusely apiculate. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)
Colours: Flower sulphur-yellow with paler spur.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 to 2200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, April.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 676-163M.JPG.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.