Orchids of New Guinea

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Bulbophyllum erythrosema

Bulbophyllum erythrosema J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 186, fig. 31

Type: Leiden cult. 20030122 (de Vogel & Vogel) (holo L), from PNG, Central Prov.

Roots sprouting near the base of the rhizome, growing backwards along it until reaching the substrate. Rhizome up to 50 cm long, c. 4 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs 0.7-1.5 cm long, erect to patent, bracts not persistent. Pseudobulbs 1.5-2.8 by c. 0.5 cm, porrect, distant, cylindrical-obovoid, the new shoot arising 4-8 mm from the top of the pseudobulb. Leaves: petiole 0.6-0.8 cm long; blade 4.5-6 by 1.4-1.8 cm, index (length/width) 3.2-3.4, elliptic, acute. Inflorescence c. 3 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle c. 1.3 cm long, porrect; non-floriferous bracts 2, the longest c. 10 mm long; floral bract c. 9 mm long, tubular, acute. Flowers widely opening. Pedicel-and-ovary c. 16 mm long, basal node on a c. 6.5 mm long stump. Dorsal sepal c. 22 by 6 mm, index 3.6-3.7, including a c. 9 mm caudate tip, recurved or spreading, elliptic, margins ciliolate but glabrous distally, base narrowly attached, rather thin, surface glabrous. Lateral sepals c. 21 by 5 mm, index c. 4.2, free, upper margin glabrous, lower shortly ciliolate, base rather broadly attached, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 4 by 2 mm, index c. 2, recurved, distinctly convex distally, elliptic-oblong, acute, margins finely erose-papillose, base broadly attached, thin, surface about glabrous. Lip c. 7.5 by 4 mm, index 1.8-1.9, only slightly recurved, elliptic-obovate, obtuse, margins entire, rather thick, surface glabrous; adaxially somewhat concave, with two short, converging and distally almost meeting ridges near the base with an inconspicuous flat callus in between; abaxially convex. Column c. 1.8 mm long; stigma semi-elliptic, without keels inside, with a low median callus well below its proximal margin; foot widened and with patent, rounded lateral teeth just above the ligament; stelidia c. 1 mm long, narrowly triangular, tip about acute; rostellum protruding; anther-cap abaxially with a distinct crest, surface about glabrous, front margin drawn out into a rounded beak; pollinia 4, more or less ovoid, the outer moderately flattened, the inner slightly shorter than the outer, distinctly flattened; no appendages. (After Vermeulen, 2008)

Colours:

Sepals yellow, nerves red proximally, petals whitish with a purple mid-nerve, lip reddish purple with a yellow margin, column yellow, suffused with red.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea;