Bulbophyllum spathipetalum

Bulbophyllum spathipetalum

Bulbophyllum spathipetalum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 9

Type: Versteeg 1548

Rhizome creeping, short. Pseudobulbs close together, oblong-ovoid, with attenuate apex, with several longitudinal grooves, 1.6 by 0.75 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf petiolate, lanceolate, acuminate, very acute, 5 cm long; above on both sides of the mid-vein convex, mid-vein grooved above, keeled below; petiole channelled-conduplicate, 0.9 cm long. Inflorescences 1-leaved, numerous, fasciculate, from the nodes of the rhizome, 4 cm long; peduncle filiform with c. 2 tubular, acuminate peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cup-shaped, subulate-acuminate, 0.35 cm long. Flowers 1.5 cm wide. Median sepal about horizontal, lanceolate, very sharply acuminate, concave, 0.88 by 0.26 cm; apex recurved; nerves 3, prominent outside. Lateral sepals diverging, oblong, subfalcate, obtuse, apiculate, convex, 0.97 by 0.4 cm. Petals spathulate, obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.26 cm long; blade suborbicular, 0.18 cm wide. Lip mobile, curved, tongue-shaped, obtuse, fleshy, 0.3 cm long; base channelled; apex convex; papillose underneath. Column 0.2 cm long; stelidia subulate, shorter than the anther; stigma obovate, deeply hollow; column-foot almost at right angles to the ovary, slightly incurved, to the apex narrowed, obtuse, below the stigma swollen, 0.2 cm long. Anther hood-shaped; connective strongly keeled; apex shortly acuminate; thecae small. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, ovate, 0.05 cm long; the inner ones smaller. Ovary 6-angular, 6-grooved, minutely verruculose-pitted, 0.26 cm long; pedicel slender 1.1 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)


Inflorescence green. Floral bract turning brown. Sepals orange, white at the base. Petals translucent violet with dark violet midrib. Lip white underneath, orange above, with a narrow violet margin. Ovary yellowish green with red-brown ribs?; pedicel yellowish white.

Epiphyte in lowland forest.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia); see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum spathipetalum in New Guinea

Warm growing epiphyte.

August.

  • Smith, J.J., Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 100, t. 33, fig. 110
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Papulipetalum
  • Species Bulbophyllum spathipetalum

Sponsored Ads

Bulbophyllum spathipetalum

Overview picture of Bulbophyllum spathipetalum J.J.Sm.