Grammatophyllum Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie; 1825), p. 377, t.20

Introduction: There are about ten species in this genus distributed from Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. The genus includes the largest orchid species in the world, Grammatophyllum papuanum syn. Grammatophyllum speciosum.

Derivation of genus name: The genus was described by Carl Blume in 1825 from the Greek gamma = letter and phyllon = leaf in reference to the dark markings in the sepals and petals.

Type species: Grammatophyllum speciosum Blume

Characteristics of the genus: Medium-sized to very large epiphytic herbs, the roots often form 'nest-like' clumps which look quite spectacular. Plants may flower profusely with several inflorescences. The flowers are large, yellow-greenish with brown or maroon marks. Remarkably on Grammatophyllum papuanum inflorescences, which can bear more than fifty flowers the lowest flowers have no labellum. The latter can be found high up in tress in an exposed situation, while Grammatophyllum scriptum can be found on Manus Island, for instance, growing on tree branches on the beach overhanging the sea.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus:

Number of species in New Guinea: 2

View photo: Grammatophyllum species

Species line drawing: Grammatophyllum stapellaeflorum (Teissm. & Binnend) J.J. Smith drawn by N.H.S. Howcroft

Habitat: found in dense rainforest up to 1,200 m a.s.l. in exposed position

Conservation status: not known