Bulbophyllum aechmophorum

Bulbophyllum aechmophorum J.J.Verm., Orchid Monogr. 7 (1993) 150, fig. 101

Type: Brass 11442 (holo AMES)

Rhizome creeping, 0.2-0.25 cm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 0.4-1.8 cm apart, 1.2-2.5 by 0.5-0.9 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 10-18 mm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 3.5-6.2 by 0.7-1.7 cm, index 2.2-9; tip obtuse to acute. Inflorescence 8-12 cm, 1flowered; peduncle 3.8-4.5 cm. Floral bracts c. 3. the longest 0.7-0.8 cm. Floral bracts tubular, 6-6.5 mm; tip acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 17-23 mm, with the node 0.3-0.45 cm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 28-50 by 4.5-5 mm, index 6.2-10; tip caudate, thin, glabrous. Lateral sepals free, oblique, 30-48 by 5-5.5 mm, index 6-8.8; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals ovate, 0.3-0.9 by 0.8-1.2 mm, index 0.3-0.8; tip obtuse, thin, glabrous. Lip approximately straight, general outline approximately elliptic, narrowed in the basal half, and slightly tapering towards the tip, 7-9 by 1.5-1.8 mm, index 4-5 (not spread); tip subacute, thick, glabrous; adaxially with a distinct basal concavety, basal teeth converging, together forming a transversely ridge, basal part of the lip distinctly convex, with a median furrow, gradually passing into the slightly convex or flat top part of the lip; abaxially with a refuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 2.5-3 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma obovate, slightly protruding at its base. Column-foot with a distinct, approximately straight, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther (not seen). (After Vermeulen, 1993)

Colours: Pseudobulbs suffused brownish. Sepals pale green or yellow green, with more or less pinkish to dark purple veins, with or without a purple tip. Lip and column bright green.

Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1300-2850 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January, February, October.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-58M.jpg.

Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.

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