Bulbophyllum fruticulum J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 191, fig. 33
Type: Leiden cult. 20030188 (holo L), from PNG, Central Prov., Woitape
Roots sprouting near the base of the rhizome, growing backwards along it until reaching the substrate. Rhizome up to 7 cm long, 1-1.4 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs 0.2-0.4 cm long, erect to patent (erroneously drawn pendulous in fig. 33), bracts rather persistent. Pseudobulbs 0.5-0.8 by 0.15-0.2 cm, porrect, distant, cylindrical-obovoid, the new shoot arising about 1.5-3 mm from the base of the pseudobulb. Leaves: petiole up to 1 mm long; blade 1-1.7 by 0.3-0.45 cm, index (length/width) 2.7-3.8, elliptic, acute. Inflorescence c. 0.6 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle c. 0.1 cm long, porrect; non-floriferous bracts 2, the longest 5-8 mm long; floral bract c. 1.5 mm long, tubular, acute. Flowers moderately opening. Pedicel-with-ovary c. 2.5 mm long, basal node on a c. 0.8 mm long stump. Dorsal sepal c. 1.7 by 1.2 mm, index c. 1.4, more or less porrect, elliptic, apiculate, margins entire, base rather broadly attached, rather thin, surface glabrous. Lateral sepals c. 2 by 1.7 mm, index c. 1.2, free, elliptic-ovate, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 1 by 0.6 mm, index c. 1.7, porrect, elliptic-oblong, rounded, margins finely erose, base broadly attached, thin, surface glabrous. Lip c. 1.6 by 1.1 mm, index 1.4-1.5, more or less straight, ovate, rounded, margins papillose, thick, surface papillose except near the tip; adaxially concave near the base, with two high, rather sharp keels starting near the base, close to the margins and gently converging but leaving a deep furrow in between for up to two thirds of the length of the lip, distal part somewhat convex; abaxially convex, somewhat furrowed distally. Column c. 1.2 mm long; stigma ovate, without keels inside; foot not widened; stelidia c. 0.5 mm long, slightly downwards falcate, triangular-subulate, acute; rostellum not protruding; anther-cap abaxially with a crest, surface papillose, front margin drawn out into a rounded beak; pollinia 4, more or less ellipsoid, the inner somewhat shorter than the outer, flattened; no appendages. (After Vermeulen, 2008)
Colours: Sepals and petals yellow, lip and column pale yellow.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; Papua New Guinea; see map 96-2280M.jpg.