Bulbophyllum minutipetalum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 761
Type: Schlechter 18536 (holo B, lost); neo: Jongejan cult. 1739 (L)
Rhizome creeping, 2-3 mm diam. Pseudobulbs approx. cylindrical, 0.4-2 cm apart, 1.5-5.5 by 0.3-0.5 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 7-28 mm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 2.8-17 by 0.7-3 cm, index 3-10, tip acute to acuminate. Inflorescence 8-11 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 2.5-5 cm; bracts c. 2, the longest 4-7 mm. Floral bracts tubular, 5-6 mm, tip acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 14-30 mm, with the node 2.2-3.5 mm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 25-48 by 3.5-9 mm, index 4-10.5, tip caudate; margins finely papillose to ciliate; thin; adx. glabrous or pubescent; abx. glabrous. Lateral sepals free, oblique, 25-48 by 4-8 mm, index 4-9, upper margin often approx. glabrous; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals oblique, ovate, 0.5-1 by 0.6-1.4 mm, index 0.4-1.7, tip obtuse to acute; margins glabrous or erose; thin; surface glabrous. Lip curved, general outline approx. ovate, 4-6 by 2.8-4 mm, index 0.9-2 (not spread), tip obtuse to acuminate; margins finely papillose or ciliate; rather thick; adx. with a distinct basal concavity, basal teeth converging, together forming a transverse ridge with a slit or a notch half-way, basal part of the lip slightly concave because of the somewhat upwards folded margins, either gradually, or with a fold passing into the flat or somewhat convex top part of the lip, surface papillose around the basal teeth and towards the margins, otherwise approx. glabrous; abx. with an inconspicuous, truncate median ridge, surface somewhat papillose. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 1.8-2.5 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma elliptic, not protruding at its base; column-foot with a distinct, high, distinctly upwards pointing, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther abx. with a wide ridge; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Sepals white or cream-coloured. Lip white, cream-coloured or greenish.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1100-2250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, June, July, September, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1167M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.