Diplocaulobium cyclobulbon (Schltr.) A.D.Hawkes, Lloydia 20 (1957) 128.
Basionym: Dendrobium cyclobulbon.
Rhizome to 25 cm long, creeping, closely appressed to the substratum, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs closely spaced, 1-leaved, suborbicular, compressed, with sharp angles, closely appressed to the rhizome, 0.8-1.2 by 0.7-0.9 cm. Leaves oblong or elliptic-ligulate, 2-2.5 by 0.5-0.7 cm, margins often undulate, apex obtuse, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising in succession from the apex of the pseudobulb, solitary or a few together, 1-flowered. Floral bracts small. Pedicel and ovary 1 cm long, subclavate, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal lanceolate-triangular, widened to the base, 1 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate-triangular, widened to the base, 1 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum conical, 5 mm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely linear, slightly widened at the base along the anterior margin, 1 cm long, apex obtuse; glabrous. Lip narrowly oblong-ligulate, 1.2 by 0.4 cm, with 2 almost parallel keels from the base to a little below the apex, the keels with a mealy surface in basal half, in apical half with a thickened midrib in between. Column very short, glabrous, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules broadly obliquely triangular, apiculate, the median tooth like and distinctly longer; column-foot 5 mm long. Anther subquadrate-cucullate, truncate in front, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flowers pale yellow, tips of sepals and petals light orange, basal half of lip with violet-red veins.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest, also on solitary trees in grassland. Altitude 20-200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, July, August, November.
Distribution: Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency); Papua New Guinea (Madang, Morobe, Central, East Sepik (sight record, A.S.), and West New Britain Provinces).
Notes: Characterised by the small, round, flattened pseudobulbs which grow tightly appressed to the bark of the host tree.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, prefers light position.