Bulbophyllum quadrisubulatum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 445, pl. 71, fig. 91
Type: Thomsen 882 (holo BO)
Rhizome short. Pseudobulbs close together, pressed down, more or less compressed, very small, subglobose, 0.35 by 0.35 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf elliptic to lanceolate, acuminate-acute, fleshy, c. 2.4-3.3 by 0.85-1 cm; base very shortly contracted; upper side with a narrow longitudinal channel, on either side of this slightly convex; underneath obtusely angled, convex. Inflorescences 1-flowered, fascicled, erect; peduncle thin, c. 9.75 cm long. Floral bract obliquely tubular, acute, shorter than the ovary, 0.28 cm long. Flower medium-size, reversed, upside down. Median sepal ovate-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to the apex, acute, slightly concave, the top part slightly convex, 5-nerved, c. 1.35 by 0.35 cm. Lateral sepals united in a subovate-triangular-lanceolate synsepal, subobtuse, c. 1.43 by almost 0.4 cm, each obliquely lanceolate-linear-triangular, 3-nerved. Petals porrect, in outline broadly rhombic, concave, 1-nerved, in total almost 0.4 by 0.3 cm; claw short, 0.08 cm long; blade broadly triangular, its base shortly cuneate; top acutely acuminate; lower margins broadly rounded, glabrous, ciliate; except the base on either side puberulous. Lip with a narrow ligament inserted into the column-foot, mobile, straight, narrowly rhombic-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to the apex, acute, 3-nerved, 0.8 by 0.14 cm in the middle, including the ciliae 0.3 cm wide; base with 2 reversed, minute, falcate-incurved, triangular obtuse auricles, above the base dilated on either side in a very short, rounded, slightly incurved, on the upper side convex lobule; margins especially towards base slightly and narrowly incurved, densely, patent long-ciliate except near the base, cilii in lower part short; upper side with a longitudinal median ridge, at the base of the lip starting as a median callus which on it anterior side carries a retrorse tooth. Column 0.2 cm long, stelidia long, subulate, slightly upwards falcate, acute with a distinct antrorse, triangular, subacute tooth along the upper margin; stigma small; column-foot short, wart-shaped, 0.05 cm long. Anther cucullate; base dilated; apex short and broadly extended, membranous, broadly obtuse; connective obliquely subglobose-gibbose, slightly laterally compressed, at the base constricted, papillose, 0.05 cm wide. Ovary, recurved, 6-grooved, including the pedicel 0.33 cm long. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Flower dark red, lip blac.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1530M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.