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Agrostophyllum

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Agrostophyllum
Agrostophyllum philippinense
photo by Ronny Boos
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Agrostophyllinae
Genus: Agrostophyllum
Blume, 1825
Type species
Agrostophyllum javanicum
Synonyms[1]
  • Diploconchium Schauer
  • Chitonochilus Schltr. in K.M.Schumann & C.A.G.Lauterbach
  • Appendiculopsis (Schltr.) Szlach.

Agrostophyllum is a genus with about ninety species from the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name is derived from the Greek words agrostis ("grass") and phyllos ("leaf"), referring to the grass-like appearance of the leaves of some species.[2]

These epiphytic orchids occur in tropical lowland forests, growing on trunks or branches of trees. They are found from the Seychelles, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia to the Pacific Islands. The center of diversity is to be found in New Guinea, with at least 45 species.[1][3]

These orchids have elongate, frequently pendulous stems with dense leaves that overlap at their base. They show peculiar, ball-like inflorescences of many bracts, bearing small flowers.

Sections

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There are four sections in this genus :[4]

  • Dolichodesme - elongated inflorescence which may have the form of a spike, but also may be partly branched as in a panicle.
  • Agrostophyllum – Leaves somewhat longer; small flowers on a shortened apical head; a few species may only develop one or two flowers.
  • Oliganthe - characterised by a much elongated rhizome and pendant sympodia. Leaves and flowers similar to those of the previous section.
  • Appendiculopsis - slightly elongated, short creeping rhizomes; distichous, crowded, oblong leaves, at right angles with axis of stem, abruptly truncated at base, with a small petiole; terminal or lateral inflorescence; used to belong to the genus Appendicula.

Species

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Currently accepted species as of May 2014:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ Phukan, S. 1992. The genus Agrostophyllum Bl. in India. J. Indian Bot. Soc. 71(1-4): 235-238.
  3. ^ Flora of China v 25 p 362, 禾叶兰属 he ye lan shu, Agrostophyllum Blume, Bijdr. 368. 1825.
  4. ^ Schuiteman, A. et al. Revision of Agrostophyllum section Appendiculopsis, with notes on the systematics of Agrostophyllum; Orchid Monographs vol. 8. 1997