Orchids of New Guinea

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Bulbophyllum nasica

Bulbophyllum nasica Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 777

Type: Schlechter 17390; 19236 (syn B, lost)

Synonyms:

Bulbophyllum blumei (Lindl.) J.J.Sm. var. pumilum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 90, pl. 30, fig. 97
- Type: Versteeg 1278 (holo BO 3x; iso L)

Rhizome creeping. Pseudobulbs obliquely erect, oblong-ovoid, obtuse, 0.4-1 cm apart, 0.6-1.4 by 0.25-0.6 cm; longitudinally deeply grooved, groove in front wide; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate, shortly acute, acuminate, c. 3.5-6 by 0.65-1.4 cm; base narrowed; midrib above grooved, below keeled; margin recurved. Inflorescences 1-flowered, from the base of the pseudobulb, erect; peduncle filiform, c. 5.5-12 cm long, its base with tubular peduncle-scales. Floral bracts funnel-shaped, acuminate, 0.25 cm long. Median sepal incurved, lanceolate-broadly ovate, 1.8 cm long; margin long ciliate; apex ending in a long, concave, glabrous thread 0.6 by 0.38 cm; nerves 3, prominent outside. Lateral sepals falcate-deflected, subovate-oblong, about flat, 2.35 by 0.53 cm; apex narrowing into a long, narrowly linear, fusiform-clavate, above grooved, 0.9 cm long tail; inner margin thickened and finely ciliate; nerves 4, prominent outside. Petals minute, ovate-triangular, acuminate, falcate, 0.6 by 0.25 cm; margins minutely serrulate-ciliolate; nerve 1. Lip mobile; basal part swollen, laterally compressed, strongly curved, rounded; base rounded, with 2 auricles, laterally strongly hollowed, above broadly channelled, papillose, 0.18 cm long; terminal appendage long, linear, pointing downwards, convex, 3-nerved, 0.55 cm long. Column slender, straight, 0.2 cm long, with longitudinal, narrowly oblong stigma; stelidia subulate-filiform, falcate, much overtopping the anther; column-foot at right angles to the ovary, its apex strongly incurved, divided into 2 divergent, conical parts, below the stigma callus-like-swollen, 0.23 by 0.1 cm at the apex. Anther hood-shaped; apex dilatate-appendiculate; connective crested. Ovary pedicellate, c. 1-1.7 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)

Colours:

Sepals purple, more or less striped. Petals whitish with purple stripes. Column yellow. Also forms with golden yellow sepals with some red on lateral sepals and lip have been recorded in the Arfak Mts where they grow intermixed in the same locality.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest; 50-2900 m.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution New Guinea:

Indonesia (Papua Barat, Papua); Papua New Guinea; see map

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

February, March-September, November-December.

References:

Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 18, 1 (1935) 58
O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 424, fig.
Schuiteman, A. & J.F. Wanma. New and noteworthy Orchid Species from the Arfak Mountains, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Malesian Orchid Journal 20 (2017) 80, fig. 11

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
Genus Bulbophyllum
Section Polymeres
Species Bulbophyllum nasica

Notes:

Bulbophyllum longicaudatum J.J.Sm. has long been considered to be a synonym of B. nasica Schltr, from which it mainly differs in having long ‘tails’ on the lateral sepals. Confirmation of its status as separate species still requires studying a larger sample of specimens.