Bulbophyllum tentaculiferum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 799 ('tentaculatum', corr. p. 1042)
Type: Schlechter 18717 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, L)
Epiphyte, erect or spreading, to 20 cm long. Rhizome stem-like. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs subparallel to the rhizome, subcylindrical, 0.5-0.7 cm long; 1-leaved. Leaf erect-patent, ligulate, apiculate, 1.5-5 by 0.35-0.7 cm; base narrowed. Inflorescences 1-flowered, 4-6 cm long, setiform, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cucullate, much shorter than the ovary. Flower not resupinated. Sepals lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 1 cm long. Lateral sepals narrower, margins tightly connate up to the apex. Petals at the base obliquely lanceolate, caudate, as long as the sepals; apex gland-like thickened; front margin minutely finely ciliate. Lip cruciate-3-lobed, in total 0.75 cm long; base with 2 minute auricles; callus above the base very small, rounded; lateral lobes subquadrangular, very small; mid-lobe subulate, its margins long ciliate; apex tentaculate, rather thick. Column very short; stelidia subulate-lanceolate; column-foot somewhat incurved. Anther cucullate, glabrous. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, sessile, 3.5 mm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower whitish, inside violet-greenish.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1819M.jpg.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.