Bulbophyllum brachychilum

Bulbophyllum brachychilum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 770

Type: Schlechter 19321 (holo B, lost)

Epiphyte, 12-15 cm high. Rhizome short, covered with sheaths which soon split up into fibres. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs narrowly conical, 1.2-1.6 by 0.5-0.6 cm below the middle; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, narrowly ligulate, minutely apiculate, glabrous, 10-15 by 0.8-1.4 cm near the middle; base narrowed in the small petiole. Inflorescence 1-flowered, short, c. 1 cm long, covered with a few peduncle-scales. Floral bracts very small, many times shorter than the very long pedicel. Flowers several, erect. Sepals narrowly elliptic, subobtuse, c. 1 cm long. Median sepal with minutely ciliate margins. Lateral sepals oblique, glabrous, 1.8 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate, subobtuse, 0.2 cm long; to the apex verruculose-papillose. Lip curved, fleshy, in outline ovate, obtuse, 0.25 cm long; above especially at the base with 2 obtuse, rather finely warty keels. Column medium-sized, glabrous; stelidia linear, subobtuse, rather long. Anther oblongoid-cucullate, glabrous; umbo broadly ovate. Pedicel and ovary very long, glabrous, c. 9 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)

Colours: Flowers yellowish, inside violet-green. Petals and lip pink with darker spots.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 350-2300 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-235M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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