Bulbophyllum cruciatum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 45 (1911) 8
Type: Bogor cult. (Exp. Lorentz, Djibdja 278) s.n.; (Branderhorst) 51 b (no. 51 BO)
Rhizome creeping. Pseudobulbs moniliform, close together, obliquely depressed-conical, obtuse, c. 1.25-1.5 by 1.9-2.4 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate, obtuse, apiculate, c. 11 by 2.8-3.6 cm; base petiolate, narrowed, c. 1.5 cm long; midrib above grooved, fleshy-coriaceous,somewhat shiny; apex, recurved. Inflorescences from the base of the pseudobulbs, short, 1-flowered; peduncle shorter than the pseudobulb, in the basal part with sheaths, 0.4 cm long. Floral bract tubular, subulate-acuminate, transparent, 0.66 cm long. Flower cross-shaped, c. 1.8 by 1.5 cm, with fungus-like smell. Median sepal erect, lanceolate, very shortly conical-acuminate, concave, whitish, 0.83 by 0.24 cm. Lateral sepals widely patent, slightly deflexed, obliquely oblong-ovate, conical-apiculate, 0.85 by 0.4 cm; upper part slightly falcate. Petals very small, recurved-falcate, ovate-lanceolate, subobtuse, 1-nerved, 0.2 cm long; lower margin in the basal part with a falcate-triangular tooth. Lip immobile, deflexed, ligulate, obtuse, somewhat fleshy, c. 1 by 0.3 cm; base concave, with 2 very small, incurved auricles; above the base slightly constricted; underneath concave. Column strongly curved, somewhat shiny, 0.38 cm long; stelidia distinctly exceeding the anther, triangular-subulate. slightly falcate underneath at the base with a rounded lobule; stigma longitudinal, linear;. Anther cucullate; connective strongly crested-acute, 0.08. cm long. Pollinia strongly laterally compressed. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.3 cm long; pedicel the middle articulate, 0.6 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Pseudobulbs, green, later dirty dark violet. Leaf green, underneath subopaque. Peduncle white. Median sepal in the middle turning green, with 3 longitudinal close-set, irregular, dark purple stripes. Laterfal sepals, albescentia, with 3 longitudinal, wide, irregular, dark purple, confluent stripes. Petals white, the apex with a dark purple blotch. Lip verruculose-papillose, opaque, dark purple; base on either side pellecidum and dark violet-punctate. Column whitish; lobule at base of the stelidia yellow column-foot orange. Anther greenish-white; connective pale green. Ovary pale yellow-green; pedicel in upper part pale yellow-green, in lower part pale violet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 5-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, June, July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-430M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.