Species Information - Agrostophyllum leucocephalum

Agrostophyllum leucocephalum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 128

Type: Schlechter 13998 (holo B, lost; iso AMES)

Synonyms:

Epiphytic, erect, glabrous, several-stemmed 40-60 cm high. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, finely villose, becoming glabrous. Stems slender, at the base terete, towards the apex slightly laterally compressed, many-leaved, entirely covered with the tightly clasping leaf-sheaths. Leaves erect or suberect, linear, narrowed towards the apex, apex bifid, 5-12 cm long, near the middle 0.3-0.4 cm wide. Inflorescence densely capitate, sessile, terminal, 1.5-1.8 cm diam. Bracts lanceolate, acuminate, about as long as the flowers, soon dissolving into fibres. Median sepal lanceolate, acuminate, 0.6-0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, almost as long as the median sepal. Petals obliquely linear-lanceolate, acute, as long as the sepals. Lip at the base cuneate, 3-lobed, lateral lobes rounded with minutely crenulate margin, mid-lobe twice as long, ovate, shortly acuminate, margin minutely crenulate, epichile 0.6 cm long, near the middle 0.6 cm wide, sac [hypochile] oblong, obtuse, 0.4 cm long, at the mouth of the sac with a transverse, bifid, erect appendage. Column below the stigma with a flattened, rounded callus. Anther rounded, in front acuminate; pollinia 8, clavate, viscidium oblanceolate, in front acuminate. (After Schlechter, 1905).

Note: In the affinity of Agrostophyllum uniflorum Schltr., but more robust.

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