Bulbophyllum floribundum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 133
Type: Gjellerup 815
Rhizome creeping, elongated, pendulous, terete, 100-200 by 0.27 cm, entirely covered with large, tubular, overlapping, membranous, soon dry and persistent sheaths, over the sheaths 0.7 cm wide. Roots appressed, in the basal part with inconspicuous sheaths. Pseudobulbs spirally arranged, c. 3-4.5 cm apart; base appressed to the rhizome, recurved, subcylindric, to the apex somewhat narrowed, fleshy, c. 4-5 cm long when dried, 0.1 cm thick in spirit; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate, rather abruptly acuminate, acute, when dried papery, C. 21-27 by 4.5-6.75 cm; base narrowed into a petiole. Inflorescences numerous, very short, from the nodes of the rhizome, densely fascicled, contiguous; peduncle hidden between the rhizome sheaths, 1-flowered, 0.4 cm long, entirely covered with small, oblique, at the base tubular, to the top dilated sheaths. Flowers very small, with parallel sepals. Median sepal narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, minutely apiculate, 5-nerved, c. 1.3 by 0.4 cm; basal part somewhat dilated and concave; to the top thickened-convex, distinctly incurved; dorsally sparsely very minutely furfuraceous-puncticulate; margins very narrow and thin. Lateral sepals narrowly obliquely triangular, obtuse, 5-nerved, c. 1.25 by 0.47 cm; basal part concave; to the top thickened; dorsally sparsely very minutely furfuraceous-puncticulate. Petals very small, 5-angular-rhombic, acute, convex, in the middle slightly concave, 1-nerved, 0.35 by 0.18 cm. Lip mobile, small, strongly recurved, ovate, fleshy, 0.3 by 0.2 cm; above channelled, with 2 thick keels; apex narrowed and attenuate, slightly acute, to the top underneath convex; margins narrow, membranous, patently ciliate. Column making an obtuse angle with the ovary, recurved, conical, 0.2 cm long, the margins dilated, in the basal part rounded, underneath concave, with triangular apex; clinandrium concave, semiorbicular; stelidia ascending, subulate, almost as long as the anther; stigma transverse, semiorbicular; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, incurved, broadly linear, truncate, 0.3 cm long. Anther cucullate, cordate, obtuse; connective thickened, 0.13 cm long. Pollinia 4, obliquely broadly rounded-subtriangular, laterally compressed, slightly over 0.05 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.2 cm long; including the pedicel 0.3 cm long, very minutely furfuraceous-finely punctate. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Flower lilac. Sepals with white apex.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-669M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.