Bulbophyllum chimaera Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 763
Type: Schlechter 18284 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, creeping, to 15 cm long. Rhizome flexuose. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 1-1.5 cm apart, ovoid, 4-angular, 1-1.3 by 0.6-1 cm below the middle; 1-leaved. Leaf oblong, or elliptic, apiculate, glabrous, 5-10 by 1.5-3 cm near the middle. Inflorescences 1-flowered, short, 1-1.5 cm long, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts very small, many times shorter than the ovary. Flower erect-patent. Sepals at the base ovate, elongate, long acuminate. Median sepal 1.5 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, 1.8 cm long. Petals at the base very broad and obliquely cuneate, up to the basal third split in 9 flexuose, 0.3 cm long filaments. Lip ovate, obtuse, glabrous, 0.6 cm long; base narrowly 2-auriculate, between the auricles 2-keeled; above the middle glabrous, elsewhere minutely puberulous. Column short, rather thick; stelidia long subulate; column-foot somewhat incurved. Anther umbonate, oblong-cordate, glabrous. Pedicel and ovary slender, glabrous, c. 2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower golden yellow, inside spotted red. Petals spotted red. Lip orange-yellow, densely spotted red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-324M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.