Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 748

Type: Schlechter 19371 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, L)

Roots mainly below the pseudobulbs. Rhizome 7-10 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 8.5-20 cm long, bract fibres persistent, thick. Pseudobulbs distant, ovoid, somewhat flattened, 2.2-4 by 1.2-2.5 cm. Petiole 4-7 cm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 20-50 by 6-16 cm, index (length/width) 2.6-3.3; acute or shortly acuminate. Inflorescence a dense raceme 14-37 cm, 8-20-flowered. Peduncle + erect to patent, 12-30 cm, bracts 4-8, the longest 32-55 mm long. Rachis arching to nodding, 2-7 cm. Floral bracts ovate, 10-30 by 5-14 mm, acuminate. Flowers not resupinate, not fully opening, many simultaneously. Pedicel and ovary 20-40 mm long, basal node on an up to 1 mm long stump, ovary ribs rounded, straight. Median sepal + porrect with a recurved tip, elliptic to (ob-)ovate, 27-42 by 8-9.5 mm, index 2.9-4.7; acute to acuminate, margins entire, base narrowly attached; thick; glabrous. Lateral sepals free, recurved to spreading, oblique, triangular, 28-50 by 10-13 mm, index 2.5-4.2; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals recurved to spreading, elliptic to (ob-)ovate, 22-35 by 4.5-7 mm, index 3.4-5.8; acuminate to caudate (cauda up to 7 mm long), margins entire, base rather broadly attached; rather thin, glabrous. Lip hardly recurved, ovate, 10-16 by 6-10 mm, index 1.4-1.7 (all without artificial spreading); rounded, very thick, surface glabrous to very finely papillose; adaxially barely concave but with a deep median furrow near the base, elsewhere convex but shallowly channelled over most of the length of the lip, surface somewhat rogose towards the tip; abaxially + without a median ridge. Column 7-11 mm long, stigma inside with 3 keels, at its base with a narrow longitudinal ridge, column foot with two inconspicuous rounded wings laterally near the ligament. Stelidia triangular, 2-5.5 mm, acute, erose and often with one larger, antrorse, acute tooth along the upper margin, and with a large, strongly antrorse (so that it runs parallel with the column), upwards curved, ovate, obtuse, glabrous or slightly erose, very thick, abaxially un-crested tooth of 1.4-3.2 by 1.2-1.6 mm (length measured along the front margin of the tooth) along the lower margin, about half-way the column or below. Anther abaxially glabrous, with a small, rounded crest near the tip, front margin slightly drawn out, glabrous. (After Vermeulen, ms.)


Sepals and petals whitish, yellowish, greenish, pale brownish or purplish brown, with darker brown or purple veins. Lip whitish or yellow, with red or purplish red spots. Flowers fetid.

Epiphyte in lowland forest; 450-900 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum foetidum in New Guinea

Warm growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.

January, March, May, July.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 247, fig. 942
  • O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 408, fig., pl.
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Beccariana
  • Species Bulbophyllum foetidum

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Bulbophyllum foetidum

Overview picture of Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr.

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., inflorescence, photo J.J. Vermeulen, based on Singapore cult. 3085

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., flower, front view, photo J.J. Vermeulen, based on Singapore cult. 3085

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., flowers, various views, photo J.J. Vermeulen, based on Singapore cult. 3085

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., flower detail, centre of flower, oblique front view, photo J.J. Vermeulen, based on Singapore cult. 3085

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., in situ, photo A. Schuiteman

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., inflorescence (with flies), photo T. M. Reeve, based on Reeve 1076

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., in situ, photo T. M. Reeve, based on Reeve 1076

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., plant habit and flower analysis, drawing Neville Howcroft in Sida 18 (19999) 1022, fig. 2

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., J.J. Vermeulen, drawing, inflorescence and flower analysis

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., floral analysis, R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 247, fig. 942

Bulbophyllum foetidum

Bulbophyllum foetidum Schltr., herbarium sheet, Schlechter 19371 (isotype specimen BO)