Bulbophyllum holochilum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 139
Type: Gjellerup 752 (holo BO)
Rhizome creeping, branched, tufted. Pseudobulbs to 0.4-0.5 cm apart, ovoid-conical, longitudinally 6-8-grooved, c. 1.4-1.5 by 0.7 5--0.8 cm. Leaf lanceolate, acute or subacuminate, papery-coriaceous, c. 5.2-5.7 by 1.1-1.25 cm; base contracted in a petiole; midrib above grooved, keeled below. Inflorescences from the nodes of the rhizome, 1-flowered; peduncle thinly filiform, c. 4.5-5 cm long; with c. 2 tubular, small sheaths. Floral bract tubular, laterally compressed, subulate-acuminate, keeled, 0.27 cm long; apex incurved. Flower medium size. Median sepal lanceolate, acute, conical-apiculate, concave, finely ciliate, c. 1.15 by 0.3 cm; nerves 3, dorsally prominent. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, obtuse, apiculate, concave, c. 1.1 by 0.35 cm; the neighbouring margins abruptly narrowly incurved, very thinly finely ciliate, upper margin not or hardly finely ciliate; nerves 3 dorsally prominent. Petals when not flattened linear, when flattened oblanceolate, slightly sigmoid, strongly obliquely channelled, obtuse, or subobtuse, long ciliate, 1-nerved, 0.33 by 0.1 cm; margins recurved underneath; above convex. Lip immobile, porrect, strongly cymbiform-concave, from above oblong-elliptic, 0.73 by 0.33 cm; base with 2 small, short, longitudinal, parallel keels, with decurrent margins; margins strongly incurved near the apex, contiguous papillose; apex recurved, contracted, minutely 3-lobed, the lateral lobes angular-rounded, incurved, contiguous, the mid-lobe long, ovate, to the top somewhat contracted, obtuse, convex, underneath concave, when flattened oblong. Column curved, the base strongly thickened, laterally compressed, attenuate, 0.28 cm long; stigma longitudinal, narrowly linear; clinandrium concave, on either side of filament filiform, with a triangular tooth; stelidia strongly elongated, subulate, much longer than the anther, the base of the lower margin with a triangular, downwards pointing tooth, 0.1 cm long; column-foot almost absent. Anther cucullate, laterally compressed; connective thickly crested, papillose, apex thinly subulate-acuminate, 0.05-0.06 cm long. Pollinia subsemielliptic, laterally compressed. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.16 cm long; pedicel thin, 0.95 cm long, at 0.2 cm above the base articulate, both sparsely minutely punctate. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Leaves dull green. Flowers brownish violet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 25-800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-819M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.