Bromheadia falcifolia Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 369
Type: Schlechter 19919 (holo B, lost)
Epiphytic, erect, rigid, 15-25 cm high. Rhizome very short, woody. Roots terete, flexuose, glabrous. Stems unbranched, rigid, almost straight or slightly flexuose, somewhat laterally compressed, laxly 4-5-leaved, entirely covered by the tightly clasping leaf-sheaths. Leaves laterally compressed, narrowly linear-falcate, acute, rigidly coriaceous, glabrous, 7-18 by 0.25-0.35 cm. Inflorescence terminal, very short, almost head-like. Floral bracts scale-like, minute. Flowers not known. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914).
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 450 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea, endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea. See map: 93-8M.JPG
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.
Note: A collection by Womersley and Millar (NGF 35193) at the Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden (L), consists of a fragment of a sterile plant of Pholidota carnea and a single detached flower of a Bromheadia, which is clearly not Bromheadia finlaysoniana. This could be the first known flower of the present species, but as the vegetative parts are missing in Leiden we are not certain. The flower is described as follows: Sepals and petals yellow, lip reddish brown, tip golden yellow. Sepals, petals and lip are all about 1 cm long. The specimen was collected at Mumeng near Lae in Papua New Guinea on 14 August 1967, at 600 m in rainforest. Although this is not stated we presume that it was growing as an epiphyte.