Bulbophyllum tortuosum (Blume) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. (1830) 50
Basionym: Diphyes tortuosa
Rhizome pendulous, perforating the pseudobulbs. Roots appressed. Pseudobulbs alternating, elongated, in total c. 1.4-1.5 cm long; basal part adnate to the rhizome; free part narrowed to the apex underneath concave 0.5-0.65 by 0.3-0.38 cm, 1-leaved. Leaf linear, convex, fleshy, c. 6.5 by 0.58 cm; base narrowed; midrib above grooved, underneath obtuse, prominent. Inflorescences fascicled, short, 2-flowered; sheaths wide membranous, surpassing the ovary 0.3 cm; peduncle (rhizome part ?) 0.3 cm long. Flowers very small, 0.4 by 0.25 cm. Median sepal horizontal. Lateral sepals parallel, broadly subovate, broadly obtuse, concave, 3-nerved, 0.28 by 0.24 cm. Lateral sepals with inner margins connate, obliquely oblong, triangular-narrowed, subobtuse, when flattened 0.45 by 0.17 cm; lower part concave; above strongly obliquely thickened; outer margins incurved, ciliate; 3-nerved. Petals very small, vertical, broad, subovate, obtuse; apex hardly denticulate; 1-nerved, 0.1 by 0.07 cm. Lip mobile, erect, near the middle recurved, spathulate, 3-nerved, 0.23 by by 0.13 cm; claw narrowly cuneate; blade ovate, 0.15, above strongly convex, with wavy, in basal half ciliate margins; top rounded. Column short, 0.08 cm long; stelidia large rectangular, in front truncate, with upwards turned, tooth-like apex; column-foot porrect, thick, concave, slightly over 0.1 cm long, its apex calluslike thickckened, with a backwards pointing, obtuse, tooth. Anther cucullate, 0.04 cm wide; connective strongly thickened, laterally compressed, obutuse, papillose. Ovary 6-grooved, squamulose-punctate, 0.15 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Flower red, tips of lateral sepals yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 750 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, New Guinea, ?Philippines), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bhutan.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1856M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.