Bulbophyllum spathilingue

Bulbophyllum spathilingue J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 9

Type: Versteeg 1380 (syn BO); 1429 (syn BO; iso L [sterile])

Rhizome long creeping. Pseudobulbs 2-2.5 cm apart, when dried thin, 1.6-1.8 cm long; 1-leaved. Leaf petiolate, lanceolate, acuminate, acute 9-18 by 1.9-3.5 cm; midrib above grooved, below keeled; petiole slender, conduplicate, 1.5-3 cm long. Inflorescences from near the base of the pseudobulb, erect, elongate, with several tubular sheaths, 13.5-26 cm long; peduncle filiform; rachis flexuose, many-flowered, 5 cm long, the internodes 0.28-0.3 cm long. Floral bracts alternate in two rows, patent, amplexicaul, cyathiform, strongly laterally compressed, conspicuously keeled, acute, squamulose, 0.7 cm long. Flowers opening singly in succession, 2.5 cm wide. Median sepal narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, apiculate, concave, 7-nerved, at the base 5-nerved, 1.8 by 0.4 cm. Lateral sepals diverging at almost right angles, 2.2 by 0.75 cm; apex slightly incurved, obliquely oblong, especially to the apex conduplicate-cymbiform; acuminate with a laterally compressed apicule; outside strongly keeled. Petals small, diverging, obliquely oblong-triangular, acuminate, acute, 3-nerved, 0.475 by 0.2 cm. Lip large, oblong-spathulate, flat, 2 by 0.77 cm; base strongly excavate-concave, with 2 calli which in front turn in low ribs, with a deep longitudinal groove extending to about the middle of the blade; claw linear-oblong, convex, glabrous, 1.15 by 0.45 cm; blade ovate-orbicular, obtuse, convex, with incurved margin and apex, lengthwise with rows of small warts, in the middle papillose-tomentose. Column rather slender, 0.5 cm long; stelidia much shorter than the anther; stigma oblong-obtriangular; column-foot forming an acute angle with the ovary, incurved, without callus, truncate, 0.35 cm long. Anther hood-shaped, ovate-elliptic, obtuse, in the middle swollen, 0.2 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, covered with small scales, 0.5 cm long; pedicel 0.85 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)

Colours: Flower white with purplish-red markings.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.

Flowering time in the wild: July.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1728M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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