Bulbophyllum rhopalophorum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 828
Type: Schlechter 17195; 18139 (B, lost)
Epiphyte pendulous, to 40 cm long. Rhizome stem-like, unbranched. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 2-2.5 cm apart, minute, cylindrical, 0.5 cm long; 1-leaved. Leaf elliptic, apiculate, somewhat fleshy, 4.5-6.5 by 1.5-2 cm near the middle. Inflorescences very short or rather very small; small sheaths few, inconspicuous. Floral bracts cucullate, apiculate, as long as the ovary. Flower 1-flowered, glabrous. Sepals at the base ovate-lanceolate, 0.7 cm long; apex clavate-somewhat swollen. Petals obliquely elliptic, obtuse, 0.1 cm long. Lip somewhat fleshy, ovate, truncate-broadly obtuse, 0.15 cm long. Column short; stelidia triangular-lanceolate, subfalcate, acute; column-foot with the apex somewhat incurved, short. Anther cucullate, glabrous. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, glabrous, 0.1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower red. Sepals with yellow apex.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 550-1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1583M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.