Bulbophyllum bombycinum

Bulbophyllum bombycinum J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 130, fig. 1

Type: Jongejan cult. 1145 (holo L), from PNG, Milne Bay Prov.

Roots sprouting mainly below the pseudobulbs. Rhizome 1-1.2 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs 0.4-0.5 cm long, creeping, bracts not persistent. Pseudobulbs 0.9-1.2 by 0.5-0.9 cm, borne close together, (obliquely) erect, ovoid, with or without a slightly drawn out top part. Leaves: petiole 1.7-3.2 cm long; blade 4.6-7 by 0.9-1.6 cm, index (length/width) 4.3-5.1, acute (-acuminate) ovate. Inflorescence 4.5-5.5 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle 1.2-1.4 cm long, erect to patent; non-floriferous bracts c. 2, the longest 2.2-2.8 mm long; floral bract c. 3 mm long, tubular, apiculate. Flowers moderately opening. Pedicel-with-ovary 18-30 mm long, basal node on a c. 3 mm long stump. Dorsal sepal c.12 by 4.8 mm, index c. 2.5, more or less porrect to recurved, elliptic, acute, margins ciliolate, base rather broadly attached, thick, adaxial surface minutely pubescent over the nerves, abaxial surface glabrous. Lateral sepals c. 13 by 5 mm, index c. 2.6, free, recurved, obliquely elliptic-ovate, caudate with gradually thickened tips, upper margin glabrous, adaxial surface minutely and sparsely pubescent, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 4 by 2 mm, index c. 2, porrect, elliptic-ovate, rounded, margins papillose-ciliate distally, base rather broadly attached, rather thick, both surfaces papillose-hairly distally. Lip c. 6 by 3 mm, index c. 2, more or less straight, elliptic-ovate rounded, margins entire, thick; adaxially convex except for a slight median furrow at about one third of its length, the sides of which are finely and shortly papillose-pubescent down to the margin, surface otherwise glabrous; abaxially without median ridge but with a slight median furrow, surface finely and shortly papillose-pubescent up to two thirds of its length, top part glabrous. Column c. 3 mm long; stigma triangular, without keels inside, with a slight swelling well below its base; foot widened, with distinct, somewhat retrorse, rounded lateral wings just above the ligament; stelidia c. 2 mm long, semi-elliptic with denticulate upper margins, including a drawn-out obliquely downwards pointing, subulate tip c. 0.7 mm long; anther-cap abaxially with a large, wide, rounded crest near its base, surface glabrous, front margin drawn out, wedge-shaped with a concave front margin; pollinia 4, ovoid, the inner somewhat shorter than the outer, more flattened; no appendages. (After Vermeulen, 2008)

Colours: Sepals white with purple nerves and lines of scattered, fine, purple dots in between the nerves, petals yellow, with blackish purple spots distally, lip pinkish purple, slightly yellowish distally, the hairy parts a paler pinkish purple.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea; see map 96-2271M.jpg.

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