Bulbophyllum aphanopetalum Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 39 (1906) 82
Type: Schlechter 15598 (holo B, lost); neo: Jongejan cult. (Villegente) 3263 (L)
Rhizome creeping, 1-1.5 mm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 0.3-0.8 cm apart, 0.7-1.2 by 0.4-0.7 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 2-4 mm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 2-6 by 0.8-1.4 cm, index 2.5-6, tip acute. Inflorescence 4.5-7.5 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 3-6.5 cm; bracts 2-3, the longest 3-4.5 mm. Floral bracts tubular, 2.5-3 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 9.8-11 mm, with the node 2-2.5 mm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 5-9 by 2-3.5 mm, index 2.5-2.6, tip acute to slightly acuminate; thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique, 5-10 by 2-4 mm, index 2.32.6; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals (ob)ovate to triangular, 0.1-0.7 by 0.3-0.6 mm, index 0.3-1.2, tip rounded to shortly acuminate; thin; glabrous. Lip approx. straight or slightly curved at the base, general outline ovate, 2.5-4.5 by 1-2.7 mm, index 1.52.5 (not spread), tip obtuse to shortly acuminate; rather thick; glabrous; adx. with a distinct basal concavity, basal teeth converging, not touching at the tip, together forming a transverse ridge, basal part of the lip concave from margin to margin up to approx. half-way the lip, gradually passing into the slightly convex top part of the lip; abx. approx. without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 1.2-1.8 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma approx. orbicular, protruding at its base; column-foot with a distinct, moderately upwards pointing, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther abx. with a wide ridge; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Sepals and petals yellowish green to pale yellow. Lip yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 200-1200 m.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), New Caledonia, Fiji.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-120M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.