Gray, New species of Taeniophyllum from Queensland 
namely T. explanatum and T. triquetroradix, 
occur within the Wet Tropics of north-eastern 
Queensland (Townsville to Cooktown), 
while T. epacridicola is known only from far 
northern Cape York Peninsula. All three new 
species are known only from a small number 
of collections. 
Materials and methods 
This study is based on examination of living 
plants in the field, cultivated material, and 
preserved spirit collections deposited in 
BRI, CANB and CNS (herbaria acronyms 
383 
follow Thiers (continuously updated)). 
Measurements and illustrations were made 
based on living root and stem morphology, 
whereas inflorescence structure and floral 
characters were studied from live plants and 
preserved materials in spirit. Length x width 
measurements are indicated as measurement 
x measurement mm. 
An illustration depicting the inflorescences 
of all mainland Australian Taeniophyllum 
taxa, including the three newtaxa, is provided 
here for comparison purposes (Fig. 1) and to 
compliment the key. 
Taxonomy 
Key to mainland Australian Taeniophyllum species 
1 Sepals and petals fused near the base forming a tube.2 
1. Sepals and petals free to the base not forming a tube.5 
2 Roots terete in cross section.T. muelleri 
2. Roots triangular or flattened in cross section.3 
3 Roots triangular in cross section (having a raised longitudinal ridge) . . T. triquetroradix 
3. Roots flattened in cross section .4 
4 Roots 1.5-2 mm broad; peduncle filiform, 12-25 mm long; 
rachis filiform; floral bracts small, alternating, c. 0.5 mm apart, 
all in one plane; flowers c. 2.5 mm long.T. explanatum 
4. Roots 1 mm or less broad; peduncle filiform, 2-5 mm long; rachis not 
filiform, fleshy, parallel sided, twice as wide as peduncle; floral 
bracts alternating, <0.5 mm apart; flowers < 2 mm long.T. clementsii 
5 Roots 2-3 mm broad; peduncle 2-3 mm long; floral bracts overlapping, 
hiding the rachis.T. confertum 
5. Roots 1.5-4 mm broad; peduncle and rachis not as above.6 
6 Peduncle, rachis and ovary sparsely covered with erect short-bristly 
hairs; flowers green, turning yellow with age.T. lobatum 
6. Peduncle, rachis and ovary glabrous.7 
7 Young roots green with rows of white elongate spots; roots 1.5-2.5 mm 
broad, mostly hanging free from the host, some appressed; peduncle 
filiform, 20-50(-60) mm long; floral bracts overlapping; flower 7-11 mm 
wide.T. malianum 
7. Young roots green; roots 2-3.5(-4) mm broad, appressed to the host; 
peduncle and rachis zig-zag from base, not filiform, 5-10 mm long; 
floral bracts alternating 1-1.5 mm apart; flower 4.5-5 mm 
wide 
T. epacridicola 
