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Bulbophyllum appressum

Bulbophyllum appressum

Bulbophyllum appressum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 779

Type: Schlechter 19250 (holo B, lost)

Epiphyte, small, appressed to the substrate. Rhizome elongated. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs flattened, oblong, 1.5-2 cm apart, 0.5-0.7 by 0.3-0.5 cm; 1-leaved. Leaves more or less appressed to the substrate, elliptic or obovate, obtuse, glabrous, 1.2-1.8 by 0.7-1 cm at or above the middle. Inflorescences 1-flowered, 3-4.5 cm long, slender, filiform, with small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts very small, much shorter than the ovary and pedicel. Flower erect. Sepals oblong-ligulate, obtuse. Median sepal 1.1 cm long. Lateral sepals almost twice as long. Petals ligulate, 0.23 cm long; apex tricuspidate, cusps subulate, the median one twice as long as the lateral ones. Lip somewhat fleshy, glabrous, elongated in a long, subulate, obtuse, to the apex somewhat dilated extension, 0.9 cm long; base elliptic-curved; margins minutely crenulate-serrulate. Column short; stelidia subulate; column-foot somewhat incurved. Pedicel and ovary very long, glabrous, 3-4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)


Flower yellow, densely dotted brown.

Epiphyte in lowland forest.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum appressum in New Guinea

Warm growing epiphyte.

March, April.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 260, fig. 994
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Polymeres
  • Species Bulbophyllum appressum

The photograph by Dwi Suratman fits very well the morphological description of this species as well as Schlechter's illustration, but differs remarkably in the colour pattern of the flower.


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Bulbophyllum appressum

Bulbophyllum appressum Schltr., flower, oblique lateral view, photo Dwi Suratman, from Indonesia, Papua Barat Prov., Sorong town, SE margin

Bulbophyllum appressum

Bulbophyllum appressum Schltr., flower, oblique lateral view, photo Dwi Suratman, from Indonesia, Papua Barat Prov., Sorong town, SE margin

Bulbophyllum appressum

Bulbophyllum appressum Schltr., floral analysis, R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 260, fig. 994