''Agrostophyllum'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

with about ninety

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

from the orchid

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

(

Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family (biology), family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan plants that ...

). 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 a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another 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 epiphyt ...

orchids occur in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

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

Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (; Seychellois Creole: ), is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 155 islands (as per the Constitution) in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, ...

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

to the

Pacific Islands The Pacific islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of several ...

. The center of diversity is to be found in

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...

, with at least 45 species.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> These orchids have elongate, frequently

pendulous This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...

stems with dense

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

that overlap at their base. They show peculiar, ball-like

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

s of many

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also lo ...

s, 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 In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

. *''

Agrostophyllum ''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 ep ...

'' – 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 In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...

and pendant

sympodia In botany, sympodial growth is a bifurcating branching pattern where one branch develops more strongly than the other, resulting in the stronger branches forming the primary shoot and the weaker branches appearing laterally. A sympodium, also ...

. 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 ep ...

'' - 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 alternat ...

, crowded, oblong leaves, at right angles with axis of stem, abruptly truncated at base, with a small

petiole Petiole may refer to: *Petiole (botany), the stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem *Petiole (insect anatomy) In entomology, petiole is the technical term for the narrow waist of some hymenopteran insects, especially ants, bees, and ...

; terminal or lateral inflorescence; used to belong to the genus ''

Appendicula ''Appendicula'', commonly known as stream orchids, 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, often twisted leaves and small res ...

''.

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 ep ...

'' (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 ep ...

Agrostophyllum cycloglossum ''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 ep ...

'' (New Guinea *'' Agrostophyllum cyclopense'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum denbergeri'' (Sumatra to Java) *'' Agrostophyllum dischorense'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum djararatense'' (Sumatra) *'' Agrostophyllum dolychophyllum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum earinoides'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum elatum'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum elmeri ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *''

Agrostophyllum elongatum ''Agrostophyllum elongatum'', the elongated Agrostophyllum, is a member of Orchidaceae, found in the Philippines, Borneo, Java, Malaysia, Maluku, Sumatra, New Guinea, the Solomons, Vanuatu and the Caroline Islands The Caroline Island ...

'' : Elongated Agrostophyllum (Malaysia to W. Pacific) *'' Agrostophyllum fibrosum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum finisterrae'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum flavidum'' (Assam) *'' Agrostophyllum fragrans'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum globiceps'' (W. Sumatra) *'' Agrostophyllum globigerum'' (N. Borneo) *'' Agrostophyllum glumaceum'' (W. Malaysia) *'' Agrostophyllum graminifolium'' (New Guinea to Vanuatu) *'' Agrostophyllum grandiflorum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum indifferens'' (Kalimantan) *''

Agrostophyllum inocephalum ''Agrostophyllum'' is a genus with about ninety species from the orchid family (biology), 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 ...

'' (S. Taiwan to Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum javanicum'' (W. Malesia) *'' Agrostophyllum kaniense'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum kusaiense'' (Caroline Is.) *'' Agrostophyllum lamellatum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum lampongense'' (Sumatra) *'' Agrostophyllum laterale'' (Borneo) *'' Agrostophyllum latilobum'' (W. & C. Java) *'' Agrostophyllum laxum'' (W. Malaysia) *'' Agrostophyllum leucocephalum'' (New Guinea to SW. Pacific) *''

Agrostophyllum leytense ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum longifolium'' (Pen. Thailand to Malaysia) *''

Agrostophyllum longivaginatum ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *''

Agrostophyllum luzonense ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum macrocephalum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum majus'' (Pen. Thailand to Vanuatu) *'' Agrostophyllum malindangense'' (Philippines) *''

Agrostophyllum mearnsii ''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 ep ...

'' (N. Borneo to Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum megalurum'' (New Guinea to W. Pacific) *''

Agrostophyllum merrillii ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum mindanense'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum montanum'' : Mountain Agrostophyllum (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum mucronatum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum myrianthum'' (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh) *'' Agrostophyllum neoguinense'' Kittr. (Papua New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum niveum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum occidentale'' (Seychelles, N. Madagascar) *'' Agrostophyllum palawense'' (Caroline Is. - Palau) *'' Agrostophyllum paniculatum'' ( New Guinea to Solomon Islands) *'' Agrostophyllum papuanum'' (Papua New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum parviflorum'' (Maluku to New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum patentissimum'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum pelorioides ''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 ep ...

'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum philippinense ''Agrostophyllum philippinense'' is a species of orchid in the genus '' Agrostophyllum'' that was first described by Oakes Ames in 1910. It is endemic to the Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an A ...

'' (Philippines) *''

Agrostophyllum planicaule ''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 ep ...

'' (Himalaya to Indo-China) *'' Agrostophyllum potamophila'' : River-loving Agrostophyllum (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum rigidifolium'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum saccatilabium ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum saccatum'' (Borneo) *'' Agrostophyllum sepikanum'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum seychellarum ''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 ep ...

'' (Seychelles) *'' Agrostophyllum simile'' (Sulawesi) *'' Agrostophyllum spicatum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum stenophyllum'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum stipulatum ''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 ep ...

'' (Indo-China, Malaysia to Solomon Islands) ** ''Agrostophyllum stipulatum'' subsp. ''bicuspidatum'' (W. Malaysia) ** ''Agrostophyllum stipulatum'' subsp. ''stipulatum'' (Indo-China, Malaysia to Solomon Islands) *'' Agrostophyllum sumatranum'' (W. Sumatra, Borneo) *'' Agrostophyllum superpositum'' (New Guinea to Solomon Islands) *'' Agrostophyllum tenue'' (W. Malaysia) *'' Agrostophyllum torricellense'' (New Guinea to S. Vanuatu) *'' Agrostophyllum trifidum'' (Sumatra, Borneo) *'' Agrostophyllum uniflorum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum vanhulstijnii'' (Maluku) *'' Agrostophyllum ventricosum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum verruciferum'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum wenzelii ''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 ep ...

'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum zeylanicum'' (Sri Lanka)

References

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