Bulbophyllum posticum

Bulbophyllum posticum J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 19

Type: Kock, de 202 (holo BO; iso L)

Rhizome creeping, or erect to pendulous, up to 60 cm long, 1-4 mm diam. Roots present only below the pseudobulbs, generally only along the older parts of the rhizome (occasionally a few roots may grow from below recently developed pseudobulbs). Pseudobulbs (narrowly) ovoid to orbicular, sometimes with very distinct, projecting ribs, 1-6 cm apart, 0.3-2.0 by 0.3-1.3 cm, not flattened. Petiole 1-5 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 1.8-6 by 0.4-1 cm, index 3-15, tip acute. Inflorescences usually many together on a short sympodium, 0.7-1.6 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 0.2-0.6 cm; bracts 3-4, the longest 3.5-5 mm. Floral bracts tubular, 2-4 mm, tip acute to apiculate. Pedicel and ovary 3.5-6 mm, with the node 0.5-1.2 mm from the floral bract. Flowers widely opening. Median sepal ovate to elliptic, 5.5-9 by 2-4 mm, index 1.7-2.8, tip obtuse to acute; thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals slightly oblique, 5.5-8 by 2.5-5 mm, index 1.4-2.3; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals slightly oblique, 2.5-6 by 1.5-3.5 mm, index 1.6-1.9, tip rounded to acute; otherwise as the median sepal. Lip strongly curved, general outline ovate to elliptic, constricted approx. half-way, 1.5-4 by 0.8-3 mm, index 1-1.8 (not spread), tip obtuse to acute; rather thin; glabrous; adx. somewhat concave and with 2 distinct, erect, slender, more or less curved teeth near the base, convex towards the tip; abx. with an inconspicuous, retuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 1-1.7 mm; stigma not protruding at its base, slit-like. Stelidia absent or inconspicuous, margins sometimes with irregular teeth. Anther abx. with an inconspicuous ridge towards its base; front margin somewhat protruding. Pollinia 4; the inner pair more than half as long as the outer pair. (After Vermeulen, 1993)

Colours: Pseudobulbs dark green to brownish or reddish. Leaves medium to dark green. Sepals and petals white or pale yellowish, with or without dark red-purple veins; occasionally entirely brownish red. Lip red-purple, the teeth at its base white.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 800-2500 m.

Flowering time in the wild: January, February, March, April, May, July, September, October, November, December.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1466M.jpg.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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