Bulbophyllum oliganthum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 858
Type: Schlechter 17196 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BM, K)
Rhizome pendulous, up to 25 cm long, 1-1.8 mm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid to ellipsoid, 0.3-0.9 cm apart, 0.6-1.7 by 0.1-0.3 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 1-2 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 0.9-3 by 0.2-0.6 cm, index 3.4-9.5, tip acute. Inflorescence 0.8-1.8 cm, 1-3-flowered. Peduncle 0.5-0.8 cm; bracts c. 3, the longest 3.5-5 mm. Rachis if present 0.4-1 cm. Floral bracts triangular, 2.2-4 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 1.2-1.7 mm, with the node 0.3-0.5 mm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate to elliptic, 2-4 by 1-2 mm, index 1.7-3, tip acute to acuminate; margins slightly papillose towards the tip; rather thin; surface glabrous. Lateral sepals free, 2.2-4.6 by 1-2.2 mm, index 1.7-3; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals obovate, 1.3-2.6 by 0.7-1.6 mm, index 1.2-3, tip obtuse; margins slightly erose and slightly papillose; thin; surface glabrous. Lip curved, general outline ovate to elliptic, 0.9-2.5 by 0.5-1.8 mm, index 1.2-2.2 (not spread), tip obtuse; rather thick; glabrous or partly finely papillose; adx. with a basal concavity, basal teeth rather inconspicuous (usually not really separating the basal concavity and the concave basal part), converging, together forming a transverse ridge with a notch half-way (this notch may continue as a distinct channel for some distance towards the tip of the lip), basal part of the lip distinctly concave, passing with a transverse edge ridge into the top part of the lip, top part of the lip convex, with a median furrow; abx. without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 0.5-1 mm; rostellum protruding; stigma approx. orbicular, protruding at its base; column-foot with an incurved, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Stelidia inconspicuous, triangular, tip obtuse. Anther abx. approx. without a ridge; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Flowers cream-coloured.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000-2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1293M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.