Bulbophyllum cylindrobulbum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 200
Type: Schlechter 13999 (holo B, lost); neo: Reeve 1015 (L; isoneo K)
Rhizome creeping, 0.4-5.5 mm diam. Roots present along the entire rhizome. Pseudo-bulbs orbicular, ovoid, ellipsoid, or cylindrical, 0.6-30 cm apart, 0.3-6 by 0.2-1.2 cm, not to moderately flattened. Petiole 8-130 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 0.6-17 by 0.3-5 cm, index 2-17, tip rounded to acute. Inflorescences single, or few to many together on a short sympodium, 0.8-28 cm, 1-25-flowered. Peduncle 0.3-16 cm; bracts 3-7, the longest 1.8-13 mm. Rachis, if present, erect or arching, 0.15-13 cm. Floral bracts ovate to elliptic, 2-10 mm, tip obtuse to acute. Pedicel and ovary 1.7-15 mm, with the node 0.3-3.2 mm from the floral bract. Flowers scattered, 1 to many open at the time, moderately to widely opening. Median sepal ovate to elliptic, 4-14(-18) by 1.5-4 mm, index 1.8-5.5, tip acute; (rather) thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique, 4.2-15(-18) by 1.8-3.6 mm, index 2-6, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals oblique, ovate to elliptic, 1.6-5 by 1.2-2.8 mm, index 1.1-2.5, tip rounded to acute; margins glabrous to finely papillose or erose; thin; surface glabrous; adx. somewhat papillose towards the tip or not. Lip (moderately) curved, general outline ovate, elliptic, or almost rectangular, (slightly) constricted approx. half-way, 1.5-5 by 0.8-2 mm, index 1.3--2.8 (not spread), tip obtuse to acute; (rather) thick; glabrous; adx. concave and with 2 inconspicuous to distinct knobs near the base, with or without 2 inconspicuous to distinct ridges converging in front, often convex towards the tip, abx. with an inconspicuous to distinct, retuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 0.8-2.2 mm; stigma not or hardly protruding at its base, slit-like. Stelidia absent or inconspicuous, if present semi-elliptic to triangular, tip rounded to acute; upper margin often erose, or with a an inconspicuous to distinct, rounded to acute tooth along the upper margin. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its base; front margin protruding. Pollinia 4, rarely 2; the inner pair c. half as long as the outer pair or less, sometimes inconspicuous. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Flowers generally (pale or greenish) yellow, sometimes white, or orange or brownish yellow, or suffused with red, or entirely dark red or (red-)purple.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 0-3500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-462M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.