Bulbophyllum alveatum J.J.Verm., Orchid Monogr. 7 (1993) 151, fig. 102
Type: NGF (van Royen) 20362 (holo L; iso BRI, CANB, LAE)
Rhizome creeping, 0.18-0.3 cm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 0.3-1 cm apart, 1.2-3.5 by 0.4-0.7 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 10-28 mm. Leaf blade elliptic, 4-14 by 1-2.2 cm, index 2.3-10.5; tip acute to acuminate. Inflorescence 14-26 cm, 1-flowered; peduncle 11-19 cm. Floral bracts 3-4. the longest 0.5-0.8 cm. Floral bracts tubular, 4-6 mm; tip acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 18-33 mm, with the node 0.2-0.5 cm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 26-45 by 4-5 mm, index 5.2-8.8; tip caudate, thin, glabrous. Lateral sepals free, oblique, 30-45 by 5-6.5 mm, index 4.6-8; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals ovate to triangular, 1-1.5 by 1-1.4 mm, index 0.81.3; tip obtuse, thin, glabrous. Lip slightly curved base, general outline elliptic to obovate, 9.5-13 by 3-5 mm, index 2-3.2 (not spread); tip sharply acute to shortly acuminate; rather thick, glabrous except for the sometimes slightly verrucose tip; adaxially with a distinct basal concavety, basal teeth converging, not touching tip, together forming a transversely ridge, basal part of the lip not protruding far beyond the ligament, concave, gradually passing into the approximately flat top part of the lip; abaxially without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 3-3.5 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma obovate, slightly distinctly protruding at its base. Column-foot with a distinct, moderately upwards pointing, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther abaxially with a broad ridge; front margin somewhat not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Peduncle and pedicel purple. Sepals white, with pink or purple tip and/or veins. Petals white. Lip white, (sparsely) suffused with purple towards the base.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1750-2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, May, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-85M.jpg.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.