Bulbophyllum laxum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 205
Type: Schlechter 13942 (holo B, lost; iso BM, BO, BR, K, P)
Rhizome creeping, 0.5-1 mm diam. Roots present along the entire rhizome. Pseudobulbs ovoid to ellipsoid, 0.8-10 cm apart, 0.7-1.5 by 0.2-0.4 cm, hardly flattened. Petiole 1-2 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 3-8.5 by 0.4-0.7 cm, index 6-15, tip obtuse to acute. Inflorescences usually single, rarely few together on a short sympodium, 1.5-3.5 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 1.1-2.8 cm; bracts 3-4, the longest 3-3.8 mm. Floral bracts elliptic, 2.5-3.5 mm, tip (sub)acute. Pedicel and ovary 2-3.2 mm, with the node 0.30.4 mm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 3.8-5 by 1-2.2 mm, index 2.3-3.8, tip (sub)acute; thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique, ovate, 3-5 by 1.2-2 mm, index 2.2-3.4, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals (hardly) oblique, ovate to elliptic, 1.5-2 by 0.6-0.9 mm, index 2-2.6, tip (sub)acute; thin; glabrous. Lip strongly curved, general outline ovate to approx. rectangular, often slightly constricted approx. half-way, 0.6-1.4 by 0.6-1.1 mm, index 1.6-1.8 (not spread), tip obtuse to acute; rather thick; glabrous; adx. moderately concave and with 2 very inconspicuous knobs near the base, slightly convex towards the tip, abx. with an inconspicuous, retuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 0.5-1 mm; stigma not protruding at its base, obovate. Stelidia inconspicuous, triangular, tip obtuse to acute; with an inconspicuous to distinct, obtuse to acute tooth along the upper margin. Anther abx. with an inconspicuous ridge towards its base; front margin protruding. Pollinia 4, sometimes 2; the inner pair, if present, less than half as long as the outer pair, often inconspicuous. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Flower white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 200-1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, June, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-964M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.