Bulbophyllum schistopetalum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 216
Type: Schlechter 14674 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, creeping, c. 5 cm high. Rhizome terete, glabrous. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, subglobose, with somewhat depressed apex, 0.7 cm diam.; 1-leaved. Leaf oblong, acute, erect-patent, subcoriaceous, glabrous, 4-5 by 2-2.5 cm. Inflorescence 1-flowered, erect-patent, slender, terete, glabrous, 0.6-0.8 cm long. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, much shorter than the ovary. Flowers large for the section, erect-patent. Sepals lanceolate, elongate-strongly acuminate, glabrous, c. 2 cm long. Petals minute; base very broadly cuneate; deeply incised in segmentis 3 anterior as well as 4 posterior filiform, elongated segments, between these with 2 minute, tooth-like segments. Lip somewhat fleshy lanceolate, subobtuse, very minutely and densely hispid; base with 2 large, rounded, glabrous, flabellate-recurved auricles, between these with a very small double callus. Column short, rather thick; stelidia erect-patent, subulate, much surpassing the anther. Anther cucullate, shortly incised, dorsally with a large, obtuse, swelling. Ovary subcylindrical, subsessile, glabrous, 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flower outside purple-red, inside with yellow spots.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1657M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.