Bulbophyllum crocodilus J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 138
Type: Gjellerup 999 (holo BO)
Rhizome creeping, elongated, terete, 0.13-0.18 cm diam., below the pseudobulbs rooting; sheaths tubular, shorter than the internodes. Pseudobulbs c. 2.5-3.5 cm apart, obliquely erect, obliquely ovate-oblong to ovate-linear, compressed, longitudinally grooved, c. 1-1.5 by 0.48-0.4 cm; in front with a small longitudinal channel. Leaf erect, lanceolate, pointed, c. 5.3-7 by 1.1-1.75 cm; base acute, contracted in a conduplicate, 0.5-0.75 cm long petiole; midrib above grooved, underneath prominently obtuse. Inflorescences from the base of the pseudobulbs, elongated, to c. 12-flowered; peduncle terete, c. 10-18 cm long, very minutely punctate, with c. 4-5 small, tubular, acute or acuminate, keeled, to 0.8 cm long sheaths; rachis elongated, flexuose, to c. 12.5 cm long; internodes c. 1-1.45 cm long. Floral bracts distichous, tubular, subulate-acuminate, keeled, minutely punctate, 0.5-0.75 cm long. Flowers opening with intervals, supra-axillary, inserted on a truncate elevation, medium size. Median sepal sublinear, gradually subulate-narrowed, very acute, concave, 5-nerved, c. 1.75 by 0.34 cm; nerves dorsally prominent, especially the median one. Lateral sepals obliquely sublinear, gradually narrowed, sharply acute, concave, 5-nerved, c. 1.95 by 0.43 cm; nerves dorsally slightly prominent, median nerve strongly keeled. Petals very small, ovate-lanceolate, subulate-acuminate, 0.45 by 0.13 cm; base contracted, 3-nerved, the outer nerves short, the median one dorsally prominent. Lip underneath near the apex of the column-foot inserted, mobile, weakly 3-lobed, elongate-sigmoid, linear, in total c. 1.55 by 0.34 cm; basal part concave, above along the broad central groove covered with conical warts that are more or less transversely arranged in rows; lateral lobes minute, broadly triangular, at the back entire, in front crenulate, decurrent on the margins of the lip; apex narrowed, subobtuse. Column moderately long, straight, 0.4 cm long, the apex notched with an acute angle and on either side with an obtuse-angled tooth; stelidia parallel, slightly falcate, obliquely oblong, obliquely truncate, apiculate or triangular acuminate; column-foot making an almost right angle with the ovary, slightly incurved, oblong, the apex free, obtuse-angled, fleshy, 0.26 cm long. Anther erect, cucullate, oblong-elliptic, 0.2 cm long; apex with a semiorbicular, subacuminate appendage; connective ribbed. Pollinia 4, somewhat unequal, very long, lanceolate-linear, 0.16-0.18 cm long. Ovary pedicellate, 6-grooved, minutely furfuraceous-punctate, 0.5 cm long. Fruit immature nodding, fusiform, strongly obtusely 6-ribbed, c. 1.75 by 0.78 cm. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Leaves dull green. Flowers light green, when older greenish yellow with yellow apex.
Habitat: Epiphyte; 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-429M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, requires light position.