Species Information - Taeniophyllum laxum

Taeniophyllum laxum (J.J.Sm.) Kocyan & Schuit., Phytotaxa 161 (2014) 72

Type: Kempter s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, area behind Vanimo) (holo B, lost)

Synonyms:

• Microtatorchis laxa Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 130

Epiphytic, erect, slender, up to 13 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, slender, glabrous. Stem almost lacking. Leaves c. 4-5, obliquely oblong-ligulate, somewhat dilated towards the apex, apiculate, very thin-textured when dried, almost transparent, 2-2.5 cm long, above the middle 0.2-0.3 cm wide. Inflorescences erect-patent or suberect, flexuose, very laxly many-flowered. Floral bracts leaf-like, obliquely ligulate, apiculate, 4 or 5 times longer than the flowers, at the very base on either side with a subulate marginal appendage. Flowers glabrous. Sepals at the base ovate-lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, c. 0.4 cm long, at the base shortly connate with the petals. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals at the base obliquely ovate, caudate-acuminate, about as long as the sepals. Lip broadly obovate, concave, at the apex produced into a subulate appendage that is as long as the blade, lip as long as the petals, the blade above the middle with two shallow semiorbicular concavities; spur almost straight, cylindrical-clavate, obtuse, 0.25 cm long. Column very short, stigma deeply bilobed, apical lobules of the column erect, about as long as the anther. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, c. 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1919)

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