Bulbophyllum rhopaloblepharon Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 811
Type: Schlechter 20353 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, very small. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs minute, cylindrical, 0.2 cm high; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, elliptic, minute, apiculate, glabrous, 1.3-2.7 by 0.6-0.9 cm near the middle. Inflorescences 1-flowered, setiform, c. 1.5 cm long, erect, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cucullate, somewhat shorter than the ovary. Flower not resupinated. Sepals lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 0.9 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, lower margin nearly up to the apex tightly connate. Petals obliquely lanceolate, acute, 0.45 cm long; margins densely ciliate. Lip 3-lobed, long-clawed-ligulate, subobtuse, in total 0.6 cm long; base with 2 minute auricles; lateral lobes obliquely axe-shaped, very small, patent, with a short claw at the base; mid-lobe many times longer than the lateral lobes, above the short claw very narrowly ovate, densely feather-like ciliate with stiff clavate hairs, with a longitudinal median keel. Column very short, glabrous; stelidia linear-subulate, large; column-foot somewhat fleshy, short. Anther cucullate, glabrous. Ovary sessile, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower rose-red. Lip blackish-violet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 150 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1582M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.