Bulbophyllum graciliscapum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 203
Type: Schlechter 13924 (holo B, lost; iso BM, BO, BR, K)
Rhizome creeping, 0.6-1.2 mm diam.; rhizome scales of the longest internodes shorter than those internodes, leaving bare large portions of the rhizome. Roots in tufts below the pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 1.5-5 cm apart, 0.3-0.8 by 0.2-0.7 cm, not flattened. Petiole 1-5 mm. Leaf blade elliptic, 1.8-6.2 by 0.3-1.1 cm, index 2.5-8, tip acute. Inflorescence 5-26 cm, up to 42-flowered. Peduncle 2.5-18 cm, bracts 4, the longest 22.5 mm. Rachis erect to arching, up to 10 cm. Floral bracts triangular, 1-1.8 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 4-7 mm, with the node 0.8-1.5 mm from the floral bract; ovary glabrous. Flowers 1 or few open at the time, moderately opening. Median sepal ovate to triangular, 2.2-4.2 by 1.3-2 mm, index 1.2-2, tip acute to acuminate or apiculate; thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique, 2.7-4.2 by 1.2-2.3 mm, index 1.9-2.5, tip acute; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals oblique, elliptic to obovate, 1-1.8 by 0.6-1.7 mm, index 1-2.5, tip rounded to acute; margins glabrous to distinctly denticulate; thin; surface glabrous. Lip approx. straight or slightly curved at the base, general outline distinctly ovate, 1.4-2.2 by 0.7-1.3 mm, index 1.6-2 (not spread), tip obtuse to subacute; margins glabrous or finely papillose; thick; surface glabrous; adx. concave towards the base, with an inconspicuous to distinct median ridge, with 2 distinct ridges converging in front and sometimes approx. fused in the top half of the lip; abx. with a distinct, retuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 0.6-1 mm; stigma protruding at its base, transversely elliptic; column-foot without accessories. Stelidia inconspicuous, triangular, tip acute, upper margin erose, with an inconspicuous to distinct, small, deltoid obtuse to acute tooth along the lower margin. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its base; front margin not protruding. Pollinia 2. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Plant medium green. Sepals and petals yellow, with purple veins, or entirely purple with or without a whitish base. Lip greenish or purple.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400-2300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-751M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.