Bulbophyllum scrobiculilabre J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 13 (1914) 70
Type: Bogor cult. (Branderhorst) 251 (not BO;iso L 5x [probable, s.n., no coll.])
Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid to elongate-ovoid, from above attenuate and in cross-section elliptic, c. 2-2.7 by 0.9-1.2 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, petiolate, lanceolate, acute, coriaceous, c. 12.5-19 by 3.4-5.2 cm; base narrowed in the channelled, c. 3-4.5 cm long petiole; top part more or less recurved; midrib above deeply grooved, underneath keeled; underneath densely punctuate. Inflorescences from the base of the pseudobulbs, elongated, patent or curved, long flowering, producing several flowers at intervals, c. 38-43 cm long; peduncle like an iron thread, its apex thickened, with c. 5-6 small, tubular acuminate, keeled, soon disintegrating, 0.8-1.1 cm long sheaths; rachis flexuose, alternatingly flattened on one side, the internodes 0.4-0.6 cm long. Floral bracts distichous, erect-patent, clasping the rachis, conduplicate, dorsally curved, acute, strongly keeled, green, dorsally 0.6 cm long. Flowers medium size, cleistogamous, c. 2.8 cm long. Median sepal at the base covered by the margins of the lateral sepals, ovate-lanceolate, gradually long acuminate, acute, strongly concave, c. 2.7 5 by 0.66 cm; nerves 7, dorsally strongly prominent. Lateral sepals lanceolate-triangular, gradually narrowed, subulate-acute, strongly concave, c. 2.95 by 0.7 cm; nerves 8, dorsally strongly prominent. Petals very small, appressed to the column, obliquely ovate, subulate-acuminate, acute, slightly concave, 0.45 by 0.28 cm. Lip mobile, elongated, almost straight, linear, gradually narrowed to the apex, acute, pitted-verrucose except at the base, c. 2.45 by 0.35 cm at the base; underside broadly channelled, longitudinally grooved, elongated in a small channel to the apex of the lip, the groove delimited by 2 high, papillose keels, these at 0.5 cm above the base rather abruptly raised in ribs which to the top gradually become lower, glutinous; underneath at the base sulcate; upper side channelled. Column (pollinated) thick, subovoid-globose, 0.5 cm long; clinandrium denticulate. Anther persistent, cucullate, apiculate.; rostellum absent; stigma large, quadrangular; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary and an acute angle with the column, slightly incurved, the apex for a very short part free, incurved, linear, truncate, longitudinally channelled, 0.58 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, shining, violet, 0.8 cm long. Fruit subcylindrical, strongly 6-ribbed, c. 3.8 by 0.9 cm; base contracted in the short, thick, 0.4 cm long pedicel, upper half dehiscent into 6 segments with connate apices; ribs alternating larger and smaller. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Pseudobulbs opaque, glaucous-green. Leaf above somewhat shiny, subglaucous-green; underneath opaque, pale and densely pale punctuate. Peduncle dark violet, apex green; sheaths greenish; rachis shining dark green. Sepals purplish; nerves dark purple, between nerves somewhat transparent. Petals hyaline; base pale yellow; stripes 3, dark purple, the outer stripes very short. Lip base yellow, further dark purple; keels 2, high, yellowish purple. Column yellowish. Ovary shining, violet. Fruit dirty green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1666M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.