Agrostophyllum Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie; 1825, 3688, t.53

Introduction: More than seventy species divided into four sections are known in this genus distributed from the Seychelle islands, Malaya, Indonesia to Samoa. New Guinea is the centre of distribution of this genus.

Derivation of genus name: From the Greek phyllon (leaf). This refers to the grass-like appearance of the leaves which is characteristic of some but not all of the species.

Type species: A. javanicum Bl.

Characteristics of genus: These epiphytic orchids have often elongate densely leaved, frequently pendulous stems and peculiar, tightly bracted, ball-like inflorescences.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus: Five sections described:

Dolichodesme - Species have an elongated inflorescence which may be interpreted as a spike but also may be partly branched as in a panicle.
Eu-agrostophyllum - Species with more or less long leaves and with flowers compressed into a shortened head at the apex of the stem. Some species may only produce one or two flowers.
Oliganthe - Species recognised by a much elongated rhizome and pendant sympodia. Leaves and flowers similar to those of the previous section.
Appendiculopsis - Species withslightly elogated, short creeping rhizomes, leaves conspicuously crowded, forming a right angle with axis of stem, abruptly truncated at base, with a small petiole, inflorescence as for section 2 above. previously regarded as belonging to the genus Appendicula Bl.

Estimated number of species in New Guinea: At least 45 species with A. elongatum (Ridley) Schuiteman among the more commonly found species.

Species shown here:
Agrostophyllum costatum
drawn by Neville H.S. Howcroft
Agrostophyllum elongatum (Ridl.) Schuiteman
Drawn from live specimen by N.H.S. Howcroft
Key to Illustration:
A Plant habit, section of plant (5 cm scale) B Inflorescences (10 mm scale) C Flowers from front (3 mm scale) D Flower, oblique lateral view (3 mm scale) E Dorsal sepal, dorsal view (2 mm scale) F Lateral sepal, dorsal view (2 mm scale) G Petal (2 mm scale) H Labellum, from above (2 mm scale) I Labellum, lateral view (2 mm scale) J Column and stigma, with labellum and one petal, ventral view ( 2 mm scale)

Habitat: Inhabitants of the tropical lowland rain forests, these plants are quite commonly found growing on trunks or branches of medium to large sized trees. They are easily indentified by their densely, at the base overlapping, leaves.

Photos: Agrostophyllum species