Bulbophyllum fuscatum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 810
Type: Schlechter 16136; 16373; 17935; 18082 (B, lost)
Epiphyte, very small. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs very small, ovoid, 0.15-0.25 cm high. Leaf erect, oblanceolate-ligulate, apiculate, glabrous, 2.3-3.5 by 0.3-0.5 cm above the middle; base gradually weakly narrowed into a petiole. Inflorescence 1-flowered, up to 2 cm long, setiform, erect, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cucullate, shorter than the ovary. Flower not resupinated. Sepals lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 0.5-0.6 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, tightly connate up to the apex. Petals obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, 0.3-0.35 cm long; margins sparsely and very shortly finely ciliate. Lip narrowly oblong-ligulate, obtuse, as long as the petals; base with 2 minute auricles; upper side with the midrib carinate-swollen; underneath rather inconspicuously papillose; margins with very short, dense, stiff, clavate hairs. Column short, glabrous; stelidia lanceolate-subulate, large; column-foot short. Anther cucullate, glabrous. Ovary sessile, glabrous, 0.15 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower violet-brown. Petals and lip darker so.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 70-500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May, July, August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-697M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.