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Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, Sida 18 (1999) 1019

Type: Wako 105 (holo LAE)

Epiphyte, the creeping and branching habit typical of the section. Pseudobulbs c. 3-4 cm by 1.4 cm, oblong, transversely elliptic, slightly flattened. Leaves petiolate, the petiole semi-conduplicate. Inflorescence 33 cm or long, with 9 flowers; rachis short, 2.5 cm long, glabrous, nodding; peduncle 31 by 0.59 cm; sheaths 4, glabrous, tubular. Floral bracts ovate to oblong-ovate, 2.7 by 1.2 cm, concave, acute, glabrous. Flowers positioned in all directions, more or less patent, very large, moderately to wide opening; dorsal sepal ovate, 4.3 by 1.6 cm, glabrous; tip acuminate, semi-, conduplicate, slightly recurved. Lateral sepals free, obliquely triangular 5.0 by 2.1 cm, glabrous, lower margin obliquely triangular or lobed proximally; tip acuminate, semi-conduplicate. Petals ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, slightly concave, glabrous, 3.7 by 1.1 cm; tip long acuminate. Lip mobile, thick, fleshy, in general outline cordate or broadly ovate, 1.8 by 1.2 cm near base; apex blunt but dorsally bilobed, convex above with 2 slight longitudinal ridges which distally end in a slightly raised callus, with a longitudinal groove in between the ridges; margin slightly papillose; abaxial side slightly concave with an inconspicuously median ridge. Column dorsally slightly curved, from ovary to tip of stelidia 1.2 cm long; to tip of rostellum 1.0 cm long; stelidia conspicuous, subulate; with an antrorse, spathulate, truncate, verrucate tooth c. 1.0 by 0.5 cm along the lower margin which equals the stelidia in length. Column-foot at right angles to column, c. 1.0 cm long, curved towards base, broad, quadrangular, truncate, c. 1.0 cm wide, laterally lobed, with a median ridge over the face. Anther hooded; stigma more or less quadrangular. Ovary c. 1.0 cm long, glabrous; pedicel c. 4.0 cm long, glabrous; pollen not seen; fruit not seen. (After Howcroft, 1999)


Sepals and petals glossy olive-green with purple to maroon veins; base deep purple to maroon; externally darker, almost glossy brown. Lip glossy deep red, the two dorsal ridges paler, almost pink. Column dorsally white to pink with some red lines near its base; ventrally deep red. Anther red. Pedicel and ovary green.

Epiphyte in forest; 800-1600 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum wakoi in New Guinea

April, May, June, July, August, September.

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Beccariana
  • Species Bulbophyllum wakoi

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Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, flower, front view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, inflorescence, lateral view, photo A. Schuiteman, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, flower, front view, photo A. Schuiteman, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Overview picture of Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft., column and lip, lateral view, photo A. Schuiteman, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft., flower, photo A. Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, flower, plant habit, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft,inflorescence, lateral view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, inflorescence, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, centre of flower, front view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, centre of flower, oblique front view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, centre of flower, oblique lateral view, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, lip, oblique from below, photo Ed de Vogel, Leiden cult. 31984 (Schuiteman Mulder & Vogel) from Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Prov.

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, drawing J.J. Vermeulen, plant habit and flower analysis, based on Wako 105 (holo LAE)

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, , plant habit and flower analysis, drawing Neville Howcroft in Sida 18 (19999) 1020, fig. 1

Bulbophyllum wakoi

Bulbophyllum wakoi Howcroft, drawing Petetr O'Byrne