Bulbophyllum contortisepalum J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 3 (1912) 75
Type: Gjellerup 575 (holo BO)
Rhizome creeping, terete, 0.23 cm diam. Pseudobulbs far distant, obliquely ovoid quadrangular, 0.9 by 0.7 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf elliptic, obtuse; base shortly contracted and conduplicate, thick, rigid, c. 4.6 by 1.9 cm; above on either side of the midrib convex. Inflorescences from the nodes of the rhizome, 1-flowered; peduncle filiform, c. 13 cm long; in the basal part with few small tubular scales. Floral bract tubular, subulate-acuminate, 0.6 cm long. Flower large, c. 7.5 cm long, with subparallel sepals. Median sepal lanceolate, gradually long acuminate, 3-nerved, c. 2.1 by 0.35 cm above the base; basal 1/3rd concave; top 2/3rd conduplicate, laterally compressed, keeled. Lateral sepals porrect, subhorizontal, ovate-lanceolate, slightly falcate, shortly clawed, 3-nerved, c. 8 cm long; claw concave; basal half broader, convex, to 0.7 cm wide; top half very long, tail-like, linear, to the top somewhat narrowed, twisted, c. 4.5 cm long. Petals very small, appressed to the column, parallel, obliquely oblong, 1-nerved, 0.28 by 0-06 cm; apex with 2 subulate, divergent, 0.05 cm long teeth, median with a thin, 0.14 cm long arista. Lip mobile, very small, thick tongue-shaped, curved, from above triangular, acute, convex, 0.18 by 0.13 cm; base truncate, the basal part with narrow, membranous, ciliate margins; sides concave. Column thick, on either side of the stigma shortly obtuse-angled-winged, dorsally convex, 0.18 cm long, the top elongated, quadrangular, narrowed to the apex, truncate, bidentate; clinandrium deeply concave, with a short tooth on either side; stelidia obtuse, mucronate. Anther cucullate, laterally compressed, obtuse; connective strongly crested-thickened.; stigma longitudinal; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, oblong, 0.18 cm long, the apex for a short part free and incurved, truncate, with a deep longitudinal groove in the basal part. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.6 cm long; pedicel c. 2.2 cm long, 0.47 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1913)
Colours: Pseudobulbs and leaves dull dark green. Peduncle pale brownish red. Sepals yellowish green, towards the base with brownish violet stripes. Lip dark brownish violet with a white tip. Column greenish yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 5-800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, April, May, June, July, September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-397M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.