Bulbophyllum desmotrichoides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 871
Type: Schlechter 18498; 20264 (both B, lost); neo: Kalkman & Nicolas 4220 (L)
Rhizome erect, patent, or pendulous with more or less patent branches, up to 70 cm long, 1-4 mm diam.; rhizome scales of the longest internodes distinctly shorter than those internodes, leaving bare large portions of the rhizome. Roots generally close to the base of the rhizome. Pseudobulbs ovoid to ellipsoid, 0.6-14 cm apart, 0.7-4.5 by 0.2-0.8 cm, not flattened. Petiole 2-11 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 3-9 by 0.9-3.3 cm, index 2.2-7, tip obtuse to acute. Inflorescence 1.3-4 cm, 5-20-flowered. Peduncle 0.8-1.3 cm; bracts c. 3, the longest 3-8 mm. Rachis erect, 0.7-1.7 cm. Floral bracts triangular, 0.3-0.8 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 3.8-9 mm, with the node 0.2-0.4 mm from the floral bract. Flowers many open at the time, moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 3-6.2 by 1-2.5 mm, index 1.6-3, tip obtuse to acute; rather thick; glabrous. Lateral sepals free, oblique, 3.2-7 by 1-2.2 mm, index 2.6-4.6; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals oblique, ovate, 1.8-2.7 by 1-1.3 mm, index 1.8-2.4, thin; otherwise as the median sepal. Lip approx. straight, general outline ovate, 1.3-1.8 by 0.4-0.8 mm, index 2.23.2 (not spread), tip rounded; thick; glabrous; adx. distinctly concave and with 2 distinct curved ridges converging in front as well as in the back in the lower half; abx. without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 0.5-1.2 mm; stigma not protruding at its base, approx. orbicular; column-foot without accessories. Stelidia triangular, tip acute; often an small rounded, tooth along the upper margin, close to the tip. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its tip; front margin not protruding. Pollinia 4; the inner pair c. half as long as the outer pair. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Sepals (pale) yellow to cream-coloured. Petals whitish. Lip pale yellow, often suffused with purple near the base.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 0-1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, August, September, October, December.
Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-500M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.