Bulbophyllum cuniculiforme

Bulbophyllum cuniculiforme J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 15

Type: Bogor cult. (Lorentz Exp., Rachmat) s.n. (Noord stream)

Rhizome short, branched. Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid, longitudinally 7-9-grooved, 0.9-1.2 by 0.6-0.75 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate, acute, c. 4.75-7.3 by 1-1.35 cm, vel even c. 4.75 by 1.5 cm; base narrowed into a petiole; midrib above grooved, below not prominent; contracted part conduplicate, 0.27-0.4 cm long. Inflorescences erect, 1-flowered; peduncle filiform, c. 3.5-6.5 cn long, basal part and in the middle with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bract tubular, acuminate 0.28 cm long. Flower c. 2 by 1.45 cm. Sepals flat, reflexed, the base convex. Median sepal lanceolate, acute, slightly concave, with 3 inside grooved, the nerves dorsally prominent, c. 1.28 by 0.36 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, very shortly acuminate, acute, strongly concave, the nerves at the back slightly prominent, c. 1.3 by 0.53 cm. Petals very small, porrect, concealing the column and the basal cavity of the lip, appressed to the lip, subobliquely ovate, acuminate, acute, 0.26 by 0.15 cm. Lip large, porrect, immobile, when not flattened c. 1.2 by 0.44 cm; claw short; the very base truncate-concave; sides except at the apex incurved above the column contiguous many tubular; underneath convex; apex slightly recurved, above convex, underneath concave; inside longitudinally 5-ribbed, inside in keels margin and with the apex; underneath entirely muriculate-finely warty, warts to the apex minute; margins incurved, on either side minutely rounded-auriculate and lamella transverse basal hollow, minutely puncticulato, 0.1 cm long; blade flattened ovate, obtuse, c. 1.1 by 0.75 cm. Column obtuse-angled-curved, thin, with thickened base, 0.26 cm long; clinandrium concave, dorsally bilobed, denticulate; stelidia subquadrangular, with tridentate apex; stigma longitudinally slit-shaped; column-foot obsolete. Anther cucullate, 0.06 cm long; connective thickened. Pollinia oblong. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.3 cm long; pedicel thin, thicker than the peduncle, articulate 0.15 cm above the base, 0.35-0.65 cm long. (After Smith, 1913)

Colours: Pseudobulbs shiny, pale green, sometimes tinged violet. Leaf somewhat shiny, green. Peduncle dirty pale purple. Sepals violet-purple marmorate. Petals hyaline, stripe median and basal spots dark purple. Lip white, densely and minutely spotted dark purple. Column semitranslucent, with purple stripes. Anther yellowish; connective purple. Pollinia yellow. Ovary dirty purple; pedicel dirty pale purple.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-443M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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