Taeniophyllum
(pronounced: tee-nee-oh-FILL-um)
Classification
Vandeae subtribe Aeridinae
Overview
Leafless monopodial epiphytes and lithophytes with extremely short stems. Roots terete to strongly flattened. Inflorescences axillary scapose racemes, sometimes subcapitate, often fractiflex. Flowers tubular, ephemeral, usually produced in succession over long periods of time. Sepals and petals subsimilar, fused at the base. Lip unlobed to obscurely three-lobed, saccate at the base, usually with a terminal retrorse hook-like tooth. Column short, with broad stelidia flanking the anther, without a foot; pollinia 4, equal or unequal, on a common stipe and minute viscidium.
Etymology
From the Greek tainia, meaning fillet, and phyllon, meaning leaf, referring to the long filamentous roots.
Distribution
A genus of about 100 species from Africa, and northeast India to Australia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
Care and Culture Card
See basic growing conditions and care information below.
Grow Taeniophyllum mounted on a small slab or hardwood twig without any moisture-retaining material at the roots. Provide warm temperatures, medium light levels, and regular watering throughout the year. The plants are particularly susceptible to drying out during shipping. When this happens the connection between the roots and the stem often dies resulting in loss of the plant. Most Taeniophyllum produce ephemeral flowers which open in the afternoon and fall off the plant the following morning. Some species are gregarious flowering and open their flowers as a result of an environmental stimulus such as the drop in temperature coincidental with a rain storm.
Literature
Carr, C. 1932. Genus Taeniophyllum in the Malay Peninsula. Gard. Bull. Straits Settlem. 7(1):61-86. Jonsson, L. 1979. The African members of Taeniophyllum (Orchidaceae). Bot. Notis. 132:511-519.
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