Bulbophyllum imbricans J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11 (1912) 278
Type: Gjellerup 882 (holo BO; iso L)
Rhizome pendulous, scarcely branched, c. 17.5 cm long. Roots appressed. Pseudobulbs close together, in two rows, imbricate, oblong, clearly quadrangular, in front and back strongly concave, 0.5-0.85 by 0.25 cm; base obliquely adnate to the rhizome; free part tightly appressed to the rhizome. Leaf curved, oblong, more or less ovate, very shortly apiculate-acuminate, fleshy, 0.85-1.5 by 0.43-0.65 cm; base very shortly contracted; above on either side of the longitudinal groove convex. Inflorescences 1-flowered, from the nodes of the rhizome, fascicled; peduncle 0.2 cm long, entirely covered with small, tubular, acuminate, 0.25 cm long sheaths. Floral bract very small, subulate. Flower very small. Median sepal oblong, long subulate-acuminate, 3-nerved, 0.75 by 0.23 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely subovate-oblong, long subulate-acuminate, 3-nerved, 0.77 by almost 0.25 cm; lower margin minutely finely ciliate. Petals incurved, obliquely lanceolate, acute, 1-nerved, 0.23 by 0.06 cm; above the base slightly contracted; upper half with ciliate margins. Lip strongly mobile, near the middle obtusely angled, recurved, narrowly oblong, 0.38 by 0.13 cm; in basal half above broadly channelled, with 2 high, to the front vanishing keels, pilose near the margins, underneath pilose; front part dorsally compressed, glabrous, obtuse, slightly convex. Column very short, thick, without the anther 0.07 cm long; clinandrium on either side of the filament with a tooth; stelidia parallel, tooth-like, triangular, connected by the rostellum. Anther cucullate, 0.06 cm long; base dilated; back bilobulate, extending in a long, oblong, obtuse, convex, acuminate beak.; stigma longitudinal, elliptic; column-foot making an angle obtuse with the ovary, broad, thick, quadrangular, its apex dilated, truncate, concave, 0.08 cm long and wide. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.13 cm long; pedicel 0.6 cm long, 0.133 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Leaves mostly tinged violet. Sepals brown-violet, with light yellow longitudinal stripes. Lip yellowish brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-848M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.