Taeniophyllum Blume, Bijdr. 6: fig. 70, & 7: 355. 1825.
Synonyms:
Alwisia Thwaites ex Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3: 42 (1858).
Cryptorchis Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 7: 118 (1893), nom. nud.
Ankylocheilos Summerh., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 11: 168 (1943).
Description:
Small herb. Stem short, very inconspicuous, without green leaves, base with many pale brown scales, with many long and elongated aerial roots. Compressed cylindrical or flat, appressed to tree trunk, green in rainy season, pale white or pale gray in dry season. Racemes erect, with a few flowers, peduncle and rachis very short. Floral bracts persistent, distichous or many alternative rows; flowers small, usually opening only a day. Sepals and petals free or adnate into a tube below middle. Labellum unlobed or 3-lobed, at base of column, with spur at base, apex sometimes with reverse bristle appendages; spur without appendage inside; column thick and short, without column foot; operculum apex elongated and narrowed; pollinia waxy, 4, equal or unequal in size, free; stipe short or narrowly long; viscidium oblong to elliptic, conspicuously broader than stipe.
Distribution:
Ghana to Zimbabwe, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to Pacific
Cultivation:
Not in cultivation

A key to the genus Taeniophyllum Blume
Bibliography and References:

Carlsward BS, Stern WL, Bytebier B. 2006 Comparative vegetative anatomy and systematics of the angraecoids (Vandeae, Orchidaceae) with an emphasis on the leafless habit. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 151. 165-218.
Clements MA. 1995 Reproductive biology in relation to phylogeny of the Orchidaceae especially the tribe Diurideae. PhD Thesis: Australian National University: Australia. 339 pp. + appendices.
Gray B, Jones DL. 1984 Miscellaneous notes on the orchids of north eastern Queensland: 1. A new species of Bulbophyllum and Taeniophyllum. Orchadian, 8. (2): 40-43 (1984)
Halle N. 1986 Les elateres des Sarcanthinae et additions aux Orchidaceae de la Nouvelle-Caledonie. Bull. Mus. natn. Hist. nat., Paris, ser. 4, 8, B, Adansonia. 215-39.
Jones DL, Gray B. 2006 Taeniophyllum norfolkianum (Orchidaceae), a new species from Norfolk Island. Orchadian 15. (4): 156-158.
Rajesh KP, Kumar KK. 2004 Taeniophyllum alwisii Lindl. (Orchidaceae) - a new record for Kerala. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 28. (1): 101-103 (2004)
Roberts DL, Forens VFB, Baider C, Bosser J. 2004 Taeniophyllum coxii (Summerh.) Summerh. (Orchidaceae): a new record for Mauritius, Indian Ocean. Kew. Bull. 59. (3): 493-494 (2004)