Orchids of New Guinea

Bulbophyllum contortisepalum

Bulbophyllum contortisepalum J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 3 (1912) 75

Type: Gjellerup 575 (holo BO)

Synonyms:

Bulbophyllum streptosepalum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 779
- Type: Schlechter 19245 (holo B, lost); para: 19953; 20203

Rhizome creeping, terete, 0.23 cm diam. Pseudobulbs far distant, obliquely ovoid quadrangular, 0.9 by 0.7 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf elliptic, obtuse; base shortly contracted and conduplicate, thick, rigid, c. 4.6 by 1.9 cm; above on either side of the midrib convex. Inflorescences from the nodes of the rhizome, 1-flowered; peduncle filiform, c. 13 cm long; in the basal part with few small tubular scales. Floral bract tubular, subulate-acuminate, 0.6 cm long. Flower large, c. 7.5 cm long, with subparallel sepals. Median sepal lanceolate, gradually long acuminate, 3-nerved, c. 2.1 by 0.35 cm above the base; basal 1/3rd concave; top 2/3rd conduplicate, laterally compressed, keeled. Lateral sepals porrect, subhorizontal, ovate-lanceolate, slightly falcate, shortly clawed, 3-nerved, c. 8 cm long; claw concave; basal half broader, convex, to 0.7 cm wide; top half very long, tail-like, linear, to the top somewhat narrowed, twisted, c. 4.5 cm long. Petals very small, appressed to the column, parallel, obliquely oblong, 1-nerved, 0.28 by 0-06 cm; apex with 2 subulate, divergent, 0.05 cm long teeth, median with a thin, 0.14 cm long arista. Lip mobile, very small, thick tongue-shaped, curved, from above triangular, acute, convex, 0.18 by 0.13 cm; base truncate, the basal part with narrow, membranous, ciliate margins; sides concave. Column thick, on either side of the stigma shortly obtuse-angled-winged, dorsally convex, 0.18 cm long, the top elongated, quadrangular, narrowed to the apex, truncate, bidentate; clinandrium deeply concave, with a short tooth on either side; stelidia obtuse, mucronate. Anther cucullate, laterally compressed, obtuse; connective strongly crested-thickened.; stigma longitudinal; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, oblong, 0.18 cm long, the apex for a short part free and incurved, truncate, with a deep longitudinal groove in the basal part. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.6 cm long; pedicel c. 2.2 cm long, 0.47 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1913)

Colours:

Pseudobulbs and leaves dull dark green. Peduncle pale brownish red. Sepals yellowish green, towards the base with brownish violet stripes. Lip dark brownish violet with a white tip. Column greenish yellow.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest; 5-800 m.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum contortisepalum in New Guinea

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

January, February, April, May, June, July, September, December.

References:

Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 1 (1913) 80, t. 21, fig. 64
Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 380
Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 261, fig. 995, as Bulbophyllum streptosepalum Schltr.
O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 426, fig., pl.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
Genus Bulbophyllum
Section Hoplandra
Species Bulbophyllum contortisepalum