Dendrobium bulbophylloides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 457; 21 (1923) t. 154, fig. 576.
Type: Schlechter 17709; 18247 (B, lost).
Rhizome elongated, creeping, mat-forming, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs rather widely spaced, 1-leaved, more or less obliquely cylindrical, slightly compressed, 0.4-0.6 by 0.2-0.4 cm. Leaves erect, oblong to elliptic, 1-1.3 by 0.3-0.6 cm, apex apiculate, coriaceous. Floral bracts ovate, much shorter than the ovary. Pedicel and ovary 0.7 cm, subclavate, glabrous. Flowers resupinated, c. 1 cm across. Dorsal sepal broadly ovate, 0.5 cm long, apex apiculate; glabrous. Lateral sepals obliquely broadly ovate, 0.5 cm long, apex apiculate; mentum narrowly conical, obtuse, c. 5.5 mm long. Petals obliquely ligulate-lanceolate, c. 0.4 cm long, margins subserrulate, apex acuminate. Lip subspathulate, somewhat contracted in the middle, 0.7 by 0.3 cm, base cuneate, with a transverse median thickening, also thickened in basal half along the mid-vein, apical part broadly obovate, obtuse, fleshy. Column short, glabrous, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lobules obtuse, the laterals somewhat longer than the median; column-foot c. 5.5 mm long. Anther subreniform-cucullate.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower yellowish brown, lip shining dark brown with irregular stripes.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 900-2100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, May, September, October.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Paniai and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Madang, Eastern Highlands, Morobe and Oro Provinces).
Map: BULBOMAP.JPG [Dendrobium bulbophylloides Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, prefers light position.