Agrostophyllum | Herbarium Digital Library


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Agrostophyllum

Category: Plants and Orchids
Date Posted: 2006-03-26

Approximately sixty species of agrostophyllum have been described from the Asiatic-Pacific area. These are distributed from the Sychelles Islands to Samoa, and the twelve that are indigenous to the Philippines are usually found at elevations above five thousand feet. This is a common group of orchids, which have little to attract them to the horticulturist or orchid fancier. However, because of their prominence as a part of the native orchid flora and the fact that they often appear in collections of orchid plants brought in from mountains by native collectors, a brief mention of the genus is warranted.

The generic name is derived from the Greek agrostos, meaning "grass" and phyllum or "leaf," a reference to the grass-like appearance of the leaves of the different members of the genus. All species are epiphytes with upright, flattened stems and dense distichously arranged leaves. The flowers are generally inconspicuous and form short racemes or head-like clusters. Usually the individual flowers are about one-eighth of an inch across and whitish or yellowish-green in color, with spreading petals and sepals. The petals are frequently smaller than the sepals and the labellum or lip is not articulate or hinged to the column. The genus has eight pollinia.