Taeniophyllum Blume
in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie 1825 p. 355

INTRODUCTION: A genus of leafless orchids. Around one hundred seventy to two hundred species in this genus are distributed from India, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Philippines to New Guinea, Australia, some Pacific Islands as far as Tahiti. New Guinea is considered to be the centre of distribution with some eighty species alone, some of which may prove to be conspecific.

DERIVATION OF GENUS NAME: The genus name is taken from the Greek tainia (band, fillet, ribbon) and phyllon (leaf) in a reference not clearly understood as these orchids are leafless.

TYPE SPECIES: Taeniophyllum glandulosum Blume

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENUS: The species in the genus are small to very small leafless epiphytes with flattened green roots which contain chlorophyll and have taken over the photosynthetic role of the leaves. The leaves are reduced to minute, overlapping scales covering the stem apex. The flowers of the species are very short-lived, they are mostly greenish-white to yellow.

NUMBER OF SECTIONS IN THE GENUS: The genus is divided into two sub-genera and six sections along their difference in united or free sepals and petals.

HABITAT: Not easily detected in their natural habitat the species grow on tree trunks either near the forest floor or among the dense foliage of the smaller twigs. They are found from sea level to about 1000 m.

CONSERVATION STATUS: not threatened

View photos: Taeniophyllum species