Bulbophyllum cerinum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 765
Type: Schlechter 17669 (syn B, lost; K); 18249 (syn B, lost)
Epiphyte, stout for the section, 20-30 cm high. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, flexuose, almost glabrous. Pseudobulbs narrowly ovoid or ovoid-cylindrical, 2.5-3.5 by 1-1.3 cm below the middle; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, narrowly elliptic, acuminate, glabrous, including the petiole 15-28 by 3.2-6 cm near the middle; base narrowed into a 3.5-5 cm long petiole. Inflorescences 1-flowered, usually close together, very short, 1.2-1.7 cm long; peduncle-scales few small. Floral bracts similar to the peduncle-scales, cucullate, distinctly shorter than the ovary. Flower glabrous. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse, 2.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, base of the facing margins somewhat dilated. Petals obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, apiculate, 0.75 cm long. Lip in outline broadly ovate-cordate, obtuse, fleshy, 0.7 cm long; above slightly 2-keeled. Column short, rather thick; stelidia lanceolate, subacute, medium sized; column-foot incurved. Anther oblongoid-cucullate, with a very big umbo, glabrous. Ovary subsessile, cylindrical, glabrous, c. 1.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower yellowish white. Sepals inside towards the based spotted brown. Lip light brown, in the middle densely spotted violet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000-1524 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, May, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-313M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.