''Agrostophyllum'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

(

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

Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, V ...

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 Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

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 Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean 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 se ...

. The center of diversity is to be found in

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

, 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 o ...

stems with dense

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

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

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

s of many

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

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 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 panicle are of ...

. *''

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 shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

and pendant

sympodia 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 referred to a ...

. 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; 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, oft ...

''.

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 e ...

'' (Ambon) *'' Agrostophyllum appendiculoides'' (New Guinea) *''

Agrostophyllum aristatum ''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 ...

'' (Fiji) *''

Agrostophyllum arundinaceum ''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 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 Islands ( ...

'' : 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 ''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 ...

'' (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 (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 ...

'' (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 ''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 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 ''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 ...

'' (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'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum philippinense'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum planicaule'' (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 ...

Agrostophyllum trifidum ''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 ...

'' (Sumatra, Borneo) *''

Agrostophyllum uniflorum ''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 vanhulstijnii'' (Maluku) *'' Agrostophyllum ventricosum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum verruciferum'' (New Guinea) *'' Agrostophyllum wenzelii'' (Philippines) *'' Agrostophyllum zeylanicum'' (Sri Lanka)

References

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