Bulbophyllum fractiflexum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 6
Type: Versteeg 1295 (holo BO; iso AMES 2x, K, L, NSW, P, U)
Rhizome pendulous, up to 90 cm long, 1.5-3.5 mm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid to ellipsoid, 0.5-9 cm apart, 0.9-3.2 by 0.3-1.5 cm, somewhat flattened or not. Petiole 1-10 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 2-12 by 0.6-4 cm, index 2-6.7, tip acute. Inflorescence 1.3-3.5 cm, 3-8-flowered. Peduncle 0.4-1 cm; bracts 3-4, the longest 3.5-8 mm. Rachis 0.6-2.8 cm. Floral bracts ovate to triangular, 2.8-5.5 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 1.8-2.4 mm, with the node 0.3-0.7 mm from the floral bract. Flowers hardly to widely opening. Median sepal ovate, 3.8-10.2 by 0.7-1.9 mm, index 2.2-11.4, tip obtuse to acuminate or caudate; margins usually (not always!) with fine glandular hairs; rather thin to thick; surface glabrous. Lateral sepals free, 4-10.8 by 0.7-1.8 mm, index 2.2-10.8; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals ovate to elliptic, 1-1.8 by 0.25-0.9 mm, index 1.4-4, tip obtuse to short acuminate; margins finely papillose and/or erose towards the tip; thin; surface glabrous. Lip curved, general outline (ob)ovate to elliptic, 0.7-1.8 by 0.3-1.3 mm, index 1.2-2.4 (not spread), tip rounded to obtuse; thick; glabrous or slightly and finely papillose; adx. without a basal concavity or with an inconspicuous one, basal teeth rather distinct, converging, fused to a transverse ridge with a notch half-way, basal part of the lip concave, gradually or with a v-shaped transverse edge passing into the convex top part of the lip; abx. without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 0.3-0.8 mm; rostellum protruding; stigma a transverse slit to approx. orbicular, slightly protruding and often with an inconspicuous, rounded central knob at its base; column-foot with a small, usually incurved, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Stelidia absent or inconspicuous, if present deltoid, tip rounded. Anther abx. with a wide ridge; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Flower (greenish) white or cream-colour.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 0-2000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-686M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.