Prev Taxon: Genus Agrostophyllum
Current Genus: Genus Agrostophyllum section Agrostophyllum
Next Taxon: Genus Agrostophyllum section Appendiculopsis
Agrostophyllum flexuosum
Agrostophyllum flexuosum Ormerod, Orchadian 17 (2012) 180, fig.
Type: NGF 27611 (Streimann & Kairo) (holo K; iso A, BO, BRI, CANB, L, LAE, SING)
Synonyms:
Agrostophyllum flexuosum Ormerod, sp. nov. Type: Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov.,Menyama Subdistr., Tawa Village, near Aseki, 1400 m, 15 May 1968, NGF 27611 (Streimann & Kairo) (holo K; iso A, BO, BRI, CANB, L, LAE, SING). Affinis A. curvilabre J.J. Sm. sed labello rhombicis, late retusis (non flabellatis, subtruncato-emarginatis) et column semivalido-clavatis (non valido-conicis) differt.
Epiphytic herb. Roots terete, to 0.13 cm thick. Stems laxly leaved, flexuous to straight, partly exposed at dorsal base of leaf sheaths to wholly enclosed by leaf sheaths, 17.-37.5 by 0.2-0.3 cm, at the base semi-terete and 0.6-0.9 cm wide, higher up compressed. Leaves ligulate, 6.5-20.7 by 1.7-2.55 cm; leaf sheaths exposed part 5.3-6.3 by 0.85-0.95 cm; stipules deltate, acute, to 0.2 cm long; apex tridentate. Inflorescence terminal, with numerous bracts, sheaths and some flowers, c. 3.5 cm wide; sheaths ovate, acute to 1.5 cm long. Pedicel and ovary terete, c. 0.85 cm long, laxly furfuraceous. Flowers externally laxly furfuraceous. Median sepal ovate-elliptic, 0.6-0.7 by 0.4 cm, carinate in apical half; apex acute; 3-5-nerved. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic, 0.8-1.05 by 0.5-051 cm (0.65-0.8 cm long along midrib), carinate in upper third; basal quarter enclosing spur; apex apiculate; 3-4-nerved. Petals oblong, 0.6-0.6.5 by 0.19-0.22 cm; apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed, 0.85 cm long; hypochile retrorse saccate-spurred, obtuse, 0.3 by 0.2-0.29 cm, with 0.15-0.175 cm long sac; ligula subquadrate, shortly bilobed, with shallowly truncate-retuse apex, minutely papillose-pubescent on lateral margins; epichile transversely elliptic to rhombic, 0.55-0.6.9 by 0.75-0.875 cm, its base with 2 oblong-obliquely triangular calli, with broadly retuse to truncate apex. Column obliquely erect, semi-terete-clavate, 0.39-0.4 cm long (0.3 cm long minus anther cap); midwing broadly rounded.
(after Ormerod 2012)
Leaves dull dark green; leaf sheaths with black margin. Flowers white, or sepals cream coloured tipped whitish, petals and lip white, column yellow, anther cap pale brownish with a paler median line.
Rainforest, either or not disturbed, once recorded as epiphyte on Castanopsis. Altitude 1400-2135 m.
Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Papua New Guinea, Morobe, Southern Highlands and Central Prov.
Cool growing epiphyte.
May, June, December.
- Family Orchidaceae
- Subfamily Epidendroideae
- Tribe Undetermined
- Subtribe Agrostophyllinae
- Genus Agrostophyllum
- Section Agrostophyllum
- Species Agrostophyllum flexuosum
Agrostophyllum flexuosum resembles A. curvilabre J.J.Sm. in the flexuous stems but differs in the sessile, transversely elliptic to rhombic (not clawed, flabellate) epichile of the lip and the more slender, semiterete-clavate (not stout, conical) column.
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Agrostophyllum flexuosum
Agrostophyllum flexuosum Ormerod, drawing by P. Ormerod in Orchadian 17 (2012) 179, fig.