''Agrostophyllum'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

with about ninety

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

from the orchid

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

(

Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

). The genus name is derived from the Greek words ("grass") and ("leaf"), referring to the grass-like appearance of the leaves of some species. These

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

orchids occur in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

lowland forests, growing on trunks or branches of trees. They are found from the

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Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, Sri Lanka,

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

to the Pacific Islands. The center of diversity is to be found in

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...

, with at least 45 species.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> These orchids have elongate, frequently pendulous stems with dense leaves that overlap at their base. They show peculiar, ball-like

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...

s of many bracts, bearing small flowers.

Sections

There are four sections in this genus :Schuiteman, A. et al. Revision of ''Agrostophyllum'' section ''Appendiculopsis'', with notes on the systematics of ''Agrostophyllum''; Orchid Monographs vol. 8. 1997 *'' 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 ''Agrostophyllum'' is a genus with about ninety species from the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name is derived from the Greek words ("grass") and ("leaf"), referring to the grass-like appearance of the leaves of some species. These e ...

'' - slightly elongated, short creeping rhizomes;

distichous In botany, phyllotaxis () or phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem. Phyllotactic spirals form a distinctive class of patterns in nature. Leaf arrangement The basic arrangements of leaves on a stem are opposite and alterna ...

, 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 ''Appendicula'', commonly known as stream orchids or 牛齿兰属 (niu chi lan shu), is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytic, lithophytic or rarely terrestrial plants herbs with many flat, o ...

''.

Species

Currently accepted species : *''

Agrostophyllum acutum ''Agrostophyllum'' is a genus with about ninety species from the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name is derived from the Greek words ("grass") and ("leaf"), referring to the grass-like appearance of the leaves of some species. These e ...

'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum amboinense ''Agrostophyllum'' is a genus with about ninety species from the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name is derived from the Greek words ("grass") and ("leaf"), referring to the grass-like appearance of the leaves of some species. These e ...

References

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q28099 Epidendreae genera Epiphytic orchids