Bulbophyllum infundibuliforme

Bulbophyllum infundibuliforme J.J.Sm., Icon. Bogor. 2 (1903) 103, t. 120 A

Type: Teysmann s.n. (Ambon, Mysole) (syn BO, L); J.J. Smith s.n. (Ambon) or Horst s.n. (?New Guinea) (syn BO) (see J.J. Smith 1916)

Rhizome short, creeping, 1-4 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 2-8 mm long. Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid to conical, sometimes globose, 2-8.5 by 2-5 mm. Petiole 10-76 mm long. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 50-190 by 10-30 mm, index 2.4-8, tip obtuse to acute, leaf surface adaxially glabrous to rugulose. Racemes more or less patent, 1- to 5-flowered. Peduncle 12-65 mm long, bracts 2-8, the longest 2-9 mm long. Rachis patent to erect, sometimes slightly thickened, more or less flexuose, 2-7 mm long, internode between the lowermost flowers 2-6 mm long, 1-2.5 times as long as the tubular part of the first floral bract. Floral bracts funnel-shaped, more or less oblique, 4-10 mm long, tip obtuse to acute to acuminate, abaxial keel more or less distinct. Pedicel and ovary 4-19 mm long, articulation 0.1-2 mm distant from the floral bract. Flowers 1 to 3 open at the time, widely opening. Median sepal recurved, ovate, 5-12.5 by 4-6.8 mm, index 1.5-2.1, tip acute to acuminate, base rather broadly attached; thin, glabrous, 5-7-veined. Lateral sepals spreading, oblique, about triangular, 9-17 by 7-9.8 mm, index 1.2-1.8, upper margin proximally with a rounded to acute tooth, base broadly attached; 5-9-veined, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals recurved, oblique, (ob-)ovate, 4-8.8 by 2.5-3.5 mm, index 1.5-3.0, tip acute to acuminate, base broadly attached; thin, glabrous, 3-5-veined. Lip distinctly recurved at 1/3-1/2 of its length, general outline ovate to elliptic, 8.5-15 by 3-4.8 mm, index 2-4.4 (not spread), tip acute; rather thick, glabrous; adaxially concave towards the base, at the base with two slight, partly fused calli which continue as a single gradually narrowing median ridge up to 1/3-1/2 of the length of the lip, with two obtuse ridges starting close to the margin at about 1/3 of the length of the lip, converging towards its tip and continuing over 1/3-1/2 of its length, top part of the lip convex; abaxially approx. without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 2.5-5.5 mm long; stigma approx. orbicular; column-foot without accessories. Stelidia prominent, about ovate, acute to acuminate or minutely 2-3-denticulate. (After de Witte & Vermeulen, in press)

Colours: Leaves green with darker green margins. Floral bracts greenish with red dots and lines. Sepals and petals translucent white with red-purple spots. Lip white or cream-coloured, sometimes with a longitudinal yellow band at base, sometimes with purple veins. Stigma bright green. Anther creamy-white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 3-1900 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December.

Distribution: Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-866M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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