Bulbophyllum ichthyosme

Bulbophyllum ichthyosme J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 149, fig. 12

Type: Koster BW 6896 (holo L), from Indonesia, Papua, Kebar Valley

Roots mainly below the pseudobulbs. Rhizome c. 10 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs not seen, bract fibres persistent, thick. Pseudobulbs c. 3.5 by 1.8 cm distant, ovoid, somewhat flattened. Leaves: petiole c. 4 cm long; blade 37 by 14 cm, index (length/width) 2.7-2.8, obovate, acute. Inflorescence a rather dense raceme, c. 58 cm long, 12-20-flowered; peduncle c. 50 cm long, erect to patent; non-floriferous bracts c. 7, the longest c. 46 mm long; rachis arching, 6.5-7.5 cm long; floral bracts c. 11 by 5 mm ovate, acuminate. Flowers non- resupinate, not fully opening, many simultaneously. Pedicel-with-ovary c. 35 mm long, basal node on an up to 1 mm long stump, ovary ribs rounded, straight. Dorsal sepal c. 48 by 11.5 mm, index 4.1-4.2, somewhat recurved, ovate, acute, margins entire, base narrowly attached, rather thick, glabrous. Lateral sepals 43 by 11 mm, index c. 3.9, free, oblique, triangular, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 26 by 5 mm, index c. 5.2, caudate (cauda c. 14 mm long, curled), somewhat recurved, elliptic, margins entire, base broadly attached, rather thick, glabrous. Lip c. 24 by 6 mm, index c. 4 (not flattened), not recurved, ovate, rounded, very thick; adaxially slightly concave near the base, with 2 distinct, parallel, rounded ridges over most of the length of the lip, surface glabrous but finely verrucate towards the tip; abaxially with a wide, retuse median ridge over most of the length of the lip, surface glabrous. Column c. 9 mm long; stigma inside with three keels, at its base with a narrow longitudinal ridge; foot with two small, semi-elliptic, rounded wings laterally near the ligament; stelidia c. 3 mm long, subulate, acute, with a distinct, somewhat antrorse, semi-elliptic, rounded tooth along the upper margin, and with a large, strongly antrorse (so that it runs parallel with the column) wedge-shaped, distally distinctly verrucose-papillose, very thick, abaxially smooth tooth of c. 2.5 by 2.5 mm (length measured along the front margin of the tooth) along the lower margin, about half-way along the column or below; anther-cap abaxially glabrous, with a low, rounded crest near the tip, front margin slightly drawn out, erose. - See Fig. 12. (After Vermeulen, 2008)

Colours: Flower yellowish green with reddish brown lines, fetid, smelling of fish.

Flowering time in the wild: March.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-2281M.jpg.

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