Gray, New species of Taeniophyllum from Queensland 
1. Taeniophyllum epacridicola B.Gray 
sp. nov. Similar to T. mangifera Schltr. but 
differs in having dorsal sepal and petals 
clavate, lateral sepals obovate with a sharp 
apical point and a much larger stigmatic 
opening. Typus: Queensland. Cook District: 
Atherton, cultivated (ex situ from Wasp 
Creek), 11 September 1990, B. Gray BG5235 
(holo: BRI; iso: CNS). 
Plant epiphytic. Roots usually several, 
flattened, creeping, 50-150 mm long, 2-3.5(- 
4) mm broad, greyish green. Inflorescences 
one to several, scape 4-6 mm long. Rachis 
rough, zig-zag, 5-10 mm long, reddish-green. 
Floral bracts alternating triangular 1-1.5 mm 
apart, reddish green. Flowers lasting one day, 
4.5- 5 mm across, pale creamy yellow. Sepals 
spreading widely free to the base. Dorsal 
sepal concave, elliptic to obovate, c. 2.8 x 
1.6- 1.8 mm. Lateral sepals broadly elliptic, 
acute at the apex, c. 2.6 x 1.6 mm, keeled on 
the back. Petals spathulate, c. 2 x 1.4 mm. 
Labellum thick and fleshy, deeply concave 
with raised sides and obtuse at the apex, c. 2.2 
x 1.8 mm. Spur 1.4-1 mm, in line with the 
labellum. Column short and stout, c. 1.2 x 1 
mm, purplish towards the front. Anther cap 
c. 0.8 x 1 mm, beaked at the front. Pollinia 4 
in unequal pairs. Capsule 19-20 x c. 4.5 mm, 
with slight longitudinal ridges. Figs. 2-4. 
Additional specimens examined : Queensland. Cook 
District: Wasp Creek north of Bamaga, Sep 1989, Gray 
BG5120 (CNS); Usher Point, Cape York, Jan 2010, Gray 
BG9681 & Bourne (CNS). 
Distribution and habitat : Taeniophyllum 
epacridicola is endemic to northern Cape 
York where it is known from a few localities 
north of the Jardine River (Map 1). Specimens 
examined in the field grow on twigs and small 
branches primarily in epacrid dominated 
shrubland at elevations below 100 m. T. 
epacridicola has also been rarely observed in 
the margin of the rainforest. 
Phenology : Flowering and fruiting has been 
recorded between July and January. 
Notes : Taeniophyllum epacridicola is in the 
section Taeniophyllum (synonym: section 
Trachyrhachis Schltr.), and this represents the 
first record of the section for Australia. The 
first specimen of T. epacridicola examined 
385 
was on a fallen branch in the edge of rainforest 
near Lockerby homestead north of Bamaga in 
September 1979. However, efforts to locate 
more material for detailed examination were 
unsuccessful until a second collection (sterile) 
was made at Wasp Creek in September 
1989 (Gray BG5120 ), and was successfully 
flowered in cultivation in September 1990 
(Gray BG5235). In 2008 another population 
was located at Usher Point by David Baume. 
This population was revisited in January of 
2010 to enable voucher preparation (Gray 
BG9681 & Baume). A single plant (tentatively 
identified as this species), has been located 
close to Punsand Bay; however, no fertile 
specimen has been available to date. 
Etymology : Taeniophyllum epacridicola is 
named for its seeming preference to grow 
in epacrid dominated shrubland consisting 
of Leucopogon ruscifolius R.Br. and L. 
yorkensis Pedley (Ericaceae). 
2. Taeniophyllum explanatum B.Gray sp. 
nov. Similar to T. muelleri Lindl. ex Benth. 
but differs in having roots flattened in cross- 
section. Typus: Queensland. Cook District: 
Bridle Creek on power line access road, 24 
October 2002, B. Gray BG8339 (holo: BRI; 
iso: CNS). 
Plant epiphytic forming small clumps with 
5-30 roots. Roots ± flat in cross section, 1.5- 
2 mm across, up to 10 cm long, dull green. 
Inflorescences filiform, peduncle 12-25 
mm x c. 0.2 mm with 1-3 bracts. Rachis 
increasing in length as flowering progresses 
producing 10-30 flowers one at a time; buds, 
flowers and capsules can be present at the 
same time. Floral bracts acute, alternate, 
0.5-0.6 mm long, c. 0.5 mm apart and all 
in one plane. Flowers opening singly, c. 2.5 
mm long including the spur and c. 2.5 mm 
across when open, green. Sepals and petals 
connate at the base into a tube c. 0.8 mm 
long, then spreading. Dorsal sepal linear 
to narrowly lanceolate, c. 2 x 0.6-0.7 mm, 
incurved. Lateral sepals linear, c. 2 x 0.6 
mm. Petals ovate, c. 1.8 x 0.6 mm, incurved, 
apex acuminate. Labellum cymbiform, 
narrowly triangular, 1.8-2 mm x c. 0.5 mm 
with low erect lobes at the base, apex acute 
with an inflexed spur c. 0.5 mm long. Spur 
