Bulbophyllum serra

Bulbophyllum serra

Bulbophyllum serra Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 759

Type: Schlechter 20362 (holo B, lost)

Epiphyte, tall, to 70 cm high. Rhizome creeping, short. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 1-1.5 cm apart, cylindrical, 3.5-4 by 0.3-0.45 cm above the base; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, elliptic-ligulate, acuminate, glabrous, including the petiole 25-30 by 4-5 cm in the middle; base gradually narrowed into the c. 5 cm long petiole. Inflorescence ultimately rather densely many-flowered, very slender, rigid, with a few small distant peduncle-scales, to 70 cm high; rachis distichous, serrate, gradually elongating, up to 20 cm long. Floral bracts laterally compressed, falcate-triangular, 3-4 times shorter than the pedicellate ovary. Flowers large, glabrous. Sepals lanceolate, elongate-acuminate, 6 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base along the lower margin somewhat dilated. Petals obliquely broadly ovate, strongly acuminate, 0.5 cm long. Lip in outline linear-lanceolate, elongate-acuminate, as long as the sepals; base on either side with an obtuse, short lobule; margins slightly undulate-crenulate. Column medium sized; stelidia very small, triangular, acute; column-foot incurved. Anther reniform, cucullate, umbonate, glabrous. Ovary pedicellate, glabrous, c. 1.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)


Flowers white, at the base striped with red. Lip dark red. Column yellow.

Epiphyte in lowland forest; 80-150 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum serra in New Guinea

Warm growing epiphyte.

June, July, September.

  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 416, t. 156, fig. 292
  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 251, fig. 958
  • O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 420, fig., pl.
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Intervallatae
  • Species Bulbophyllum serra

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Bulbophyllum serra

Bulbophyllum serra Schltr., floral analysis, R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 251, fig. 958

Bulbophyllum serra

Bulbophyllum serra, P. O'Byrne, drawing

Bulbophyllum serra

Bulbophyllum serra Schltr., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Janowsky 74

Bulbophyllum serra

Bulbophyllum serra Schltr., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Janowsky 74