Species Information - Bulbophyllum tricaudatum

Bulbophyllum tricaudatum J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 183, fig. 28

Type: Jongejan cult. 3205 (holo L), from PNG, Eastern Highlands Prov., Ayiura

Synonyms:

Roots sprouting near the base of the rhizome, growing backwards along it until reaching the substrate. Rhizome up to 30 cm long, c. 2.5 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs 1.8-5.2 cm long, patent to pendulous, bracts little persistent. Pseudobulbs 2.5-3.5 by c. 0.3 cm, porrect, distant, cylindrical, the new shoot arising at the base of the pseudobulb. Leaves: petiole up to c. 0.4 cm long; blade 10.2-11 by c. 0.7 cm, index (length/width) 14-16, sessile, ovate, acute. Inflorescence c. 4.5 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle c. 2 cm long, more or less patent; non-floriferous bracts 2, the longest c. 7 mm long; floral bract c. 5 mm long, tubular, acute. Flowers moderately opening. Pedicel-with-ovary c. 11 mm long, basal node on a c. 4 mm long stump. Dorsal sepal c. 14 by 3 mm, index 4.6-4.7, porrect, ovate, acuminate, margins entire, base rather narrowly attached, thin, surface glabrous. Lateral sepals c. 15 by 4 mm, index 3.7-3.8, free, triangular, acute-acuminate, base broadly attached, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 13 by 2.5 mm, index c. 5.2, including a caudate tip of 9 mm long, porrect, ovate, with an acute edge along the lower margin, close to the base, margins entire but lower somewhat finely papillose proximally, finely papillose distally, base narrowly attached, thin, surface glabrous. Lip slightly recurved at about quarter of its length, margins with two erect, triangular, obtuse lateral lobes at about one fifth to one sixth of its length, glabrous, thick, surface glabrous, consisting of an obovate-oblong basal part, c. 5 by 2.4 mm, index c. 2.1, and a linear, distally somewhat swollen, obtuse top part 6.5 by 0.5 mm, index c. 13; adaxially concave near the ligament, this cavity in front bordered by a large, conical, obtuse median tooth, adaxial surface concave again in between the lateral lobes, beyond these almost flat; abaxially convex, top part furrowed. Column c. 2.5 mm long; stigma narrowly triangular, without keels inside; foot widened to a wedge-shaped structure just above the ligament; stelidia c. 1 mm long, deltoid-triangular, acuminate; rostellum somewhat protruding; anther-cap abaxially with a crest, surface finely papillose, front margin drawn out into a retuse beak; pollinia not seen. (After Vermeulen, 2008)

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