Bulbophyllum papilio J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 39 (1910) 4
Type: Bogor cult. (Exp. Lorentz, Djibdja 863) 121 (holo L (single flower only); not in BO)
Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid, c. 2.5-4 by 1.4-1.7 cm; initially with sheaths; 1-leaved. Leaf petiolate, lanceolate, fleshy-coriaceous, c. 18-21 by 5.5-7 cm; base gradually narrowed in a channelled, c. 4.5-7 cm long petiole; midrib above deeply grooved, underneath obtuse, keeled; apex shortly acute acuminate and conduplicate. Inflorescences from the base of the pseudobulbs, elongated, producing with intervals several flowers; peduncle thick filiform, c. 75 by 0.15 cm, with c. 6 small, tubular sheaths; rachis impressed punctate. Floral bracts distichous, triangular, acute, concavae, keeled, furfuraceous, punctate, to c. 1.15 cm long; base tubular, clasping the rachis. Flowers large, one open at a time, c. 6.5 by 6 cm. Median sepal reflexed, linear, acute, c. 3.65 by 0.63 cm; base convex; inside shining and puberulous; fascia longitudinal; median concave. Lateral sepals divergent, moderately incurved, strongly cymbiform, oblong, subacute, 11-nerved, c. 4.1 by 2.2 cm; inside at the base papillose; tip acute, apiculate; strongly keeled, dorsally to base prominent to the apex, connected by transverse veins. Petals very small, sessile, obliquely semiorbicular with long falcate-subulate-contracted top part, 0.5 by 0.28 cm at the base; base fleshy. Lip strongly mobile, large, broad, flat, elliptic, subacute, c. 3 by 1.8 cm; base concave, with 2 duplicibus, warty keels, the margins incurved; basal half longitudinally grooved. Column long, straight, above angular;, 0.9 cm long; stelidia minute, tooth-like; stigma large, obovate-oblong; column-foot making a right angle with the ovary, apex incurved and slightly dilated, truncate, 0.88 cm long. Anther cucullate, transversely elliptic; connective callus-like-thickened. Pollinia 4, attached to a sticky mass, 0.13 cm long; outer ones semiovoid, outside convex; inner ones much thinner. Ovary 6-grooved, including the very short, furfuraceous punctate pedicel 1.2 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Pseudobulbs opaque, glaucous-green. Leaf above green, subopaque, underneath opaque densely pale punctate. Peduncle dirty dark violet; rachis impressed green punctate. Floral bracts green. Median sepal pale yellow-green, with 9 dark purple stripes which do not reach the apex. Lateral sepals pale yellow-green; nerves inside to the base dark purple, outsided coloured to the apex. Petals at the base pale green, the middle dark purple or with dark purple stripes, the narrowed part dark purple. Lip base green, on either side shining and with dark purple warts, further opaque, pale green-yellow tinged purple, 2/5th upper part dark purple. Column pale yellow-green with pale base; column-foot yellowish. Pollinia yellow. Pedicel and ovary green, minutely blackish brown furfuraceous-punctate.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1356M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.