Bulbophyllum cryptanthum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 199 (non Cogn.)
Type: Schlechter 14320 (holo B, lost; iso K)
Epiphyte, to 11 cm high. Rhizome short. Roots filiform-elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid terete, glabrous, ca. 1 by 0.6 cm above the base, entirely covered with dry, hyaline sheaths; 1-leaved. Leaf erect linear-oblong, acute, glabrous, thin-textured for the genus, 5-10 by 1-2 cm near the middle; base gradually narrowed. Inflorescences 1-flowered, short, terete, glabrous, with peduncle-scales. Floral bracts ovate-acuminate, glabrous, much shorter than the ovary. Flower rather small in the genus. Sepals oblong, obtuse, glabrous, 0.4 cm long. Lateral sepals falcate-oblique. Petals obliquely ovate-oblong, shortly subobtuse-acuminate, glabrous, 0.15 cm long. Lip oblong, obtuse, fleshy, 0.25 by 0.1 cm near the middle; base linear-clawed, obtuse, hastate-auriculate, minutely bigibbose, in the middle with a thickened longitudinally line; margins very minutely ciliate; underneath rounded. Column short; stelidia minute, subulate. Anther cucullate, in front shortly incisedd. Ovary subcylindrical, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flower dark purple.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 700-900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-435M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.