Bulbophyllum conspersum

Bulbophyllum conspersum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 400

Type: Gjellerup 886 (holo BO)

Rhizome creeping. Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid, 0.9-1 by 0.7 cm in the basal part; apex contracted and laterally compressed, 0.38 cm wide; 1-leaved, initially covered by large sheaths. Leaf petiolate, elliptic, coriaceous, c. 5-7 by 2.6-3.3 cm; base contracted in a c. 1.8-2.3 cm long, channelled, at the apex dilated petiole; apex obtuse or rounded, apiculate. Inflorescences 1-flowered, from the rhizome; peduncle more slender than the pedicel, 0.55 cm long. Floral bract tubular, subulate-acuminate, above keeled, 0.45 cm long. Flower medium size. Median sepal at the base covered by the upper margin of the lateral sepals, elliptic-ovate, obtuse, conical-apiculate, 5-nerved, c. 1.15 by 0.55 cm; base concave, inside papillose; upper part convex, inside finely hairy. Lateral sepals larger than the median one, porrect, horizontal, obliquely oblong, very shortly apiculate-acuminate, c. 1.4 by 0.65 cm; inside glabrous; upper margin base strongly incurved. Petals very small, obliquely subovate-oblong, obtuse, pointed, convex, thickly subclavate-finely ciliate, 1-nerved, 0.33 by 0.17 cm; inside papillose. Lip inserted near the apex of the column-foot, mobile, curved, fleshy, ovate-oblong, obtuse, glabrous, 0.38 by 0.17 cm; basal part with erect, rounded margins, broadly channelled, with 2 longitudinal, near margins decurrent, in front vanishing keels; front part convex. Column moderately long, slightly curved, underneath below the stigma with a low, laterally compressed callus, 0.36 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave; stelidia subulate, as long as the anther; stigma longitudinal, narrow; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, its apex free, incurved, truncate, 0.23 cm long. Anther cucullate; apex extended in a rather large, rounded, a little saddle-shaped, slightly over 0.1 cm long appendage. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, rounded-quadrangular, inner ones smaller than the outer ones. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.75 cm long; pedicel elongated, c. 3.5 cm long, 0.3 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1916)

Colours: Flower greyish yellow, finely spotted red-brown. Lip white, strongly spotte.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 m.

Flowering time in the wild: November.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-395M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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