Bulbophyllum discolor

Bulbophyllum discolor Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 790

Type: Schlechter 20248 (holo B, lost); neo: Jongejan 747 = Leiden cult. (Jongejan, Schuiteman & de Wilde) 22558 (neo L, alc. only)

Rhizome creeping, sometimes partly patent, 1-1.8 mm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid, sometimes globose, 0.1-0.7 cm apart, 0.3-1.1 by 0.2-0.8 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 0.3-4 mm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 0.5-3.5 by 0.2-0.7 cm, index 1.3-11, tip obtuse to acute. Inflorescence 2.2-7 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 1.8-6.5 cm; bracts 2-3, the longest 1.5-5 mm. Floral bracts tubular, 1-5 mm, tip acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 3.5-9 mm, with the node 0.5-2 mm from the floral bract. Flowers widely opening. Median sepal ovate to elliptic, (4-)6-20 by 1.2-3 mm, index 2-6.7, tip acuminate to caudate; margins glabrous to finely papillose or ciliate; thin; adx. glabrous to finely papillose; abx. glabrous. Lateral sepals free, oblique, 3-16 by 1.5-5 mm, index 1.5-3.5; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals oblique, (ob)ovate to elliptic to (inverted) triangular, 0.8-2.2 by 0.52 mm, index 0.4-2, tip truncate to obtuse; margins glabrous, erose or partly denticulate; thin; surface glabrous. Lip approx. straight or curved, general outline ovate to elliptic, (1-)1.3-3 by 0.7-2.2 mm, index 0.8-1.5 (not spread), tip rounded to obtuse; margins finely papillose to ciliate; thick; surface finely papillose; adx. with a distinct basal concavity, basal teeth converging, together forming a transverse ridge with a notch half-way, basal part of the lip approx. flat to distinctly convex, gradually passing into the approx. flat or slightly convex top part of the lip; abx. with an inconspicuous, truncate median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 0.8-2 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma orbicular, protruding at its base or not; column-foot with a distinct, straight to distinctly upwards pointing, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its tip; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)

Colours: Sepals white, greenish yellow or pinkish purple, often with purple veins and/or tip, or sepals entirely (dark) purple. Petals white or yellowish, vein and/or margins purple, or entirely purple. Lip cream-coloured to orange, often with purple veins, or entirely purple.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 450-3100 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-523M.jpg.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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