Bulbophyllum variculosum J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 130, fig. 2
Type: Yumte 202 (holo L), from Indonesia, Papua, Bird's head Peninsula
Roots sprouting mainly below the pseudobulbs. Rhizome 2-2.5 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs 0.6-0.9 cm long, creeping, bracts not persistent. Pseudobulbs 2-2.2 by c. 1.1 cm, borne close together, (obliquely) erect, ovoid, with or without a slightly drawn out top part. Leaves: petiole 2-2.5 cm long; blade 15-17 by 3.2-3.8 cm, index (length/width) 3.9-5, obovate, acuminate. Inflorescence c. 4 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle c. 0.6 cm long, erect to patent; non-floriferous bracts c. 4, the longest c. 4.5 mm long; floral bract c. 5.5 mm long, tubular, apiculate. Flowers moderately opening. Pedicel-with-ovary c. 18 mm long, basal node on a c. 3 mm long stump. Dorsal sepal c. 10 by5 mm, index c. 2, more or less porrect to recurved, elliptic-ovate, rounded, margins entire, base rather narrowly attached, thick, surface glabrous. Lateral sepals c. 11 by 5.5 mm, index c. 2, free, recurved, obliquely ovate, acuminate, base broadly attached, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 3 by 1 mm, index c. 3, porrect, ovate, acute, margins entire, base rather broadly attached, rather thick, surface glabrous. Lip c. 8 by 5 mm, index c. 1.6, recurved slightly below half-way, ovate, rounded, margins entire, thick, surface glabrous; adaxially concave proximally, with two ridges with slightly erose crests starting near the base, at the margin, running parallel to the margins for a short distance, then converging, then running parallel again while leaving a shallow furrow in between, then grading into the convex top part of the lip, the area between the ridges and the margins with protruding nerves; abaxially with a retuse median ridge over up to about half-way up the lip. Column c. 5.5 mm long; stigma semi-circular, without keels inside; foot widened into small, somewhat antrorse, rounded lateral wings just above the ligament; stelidia c. 2 mm long, triangular, acuminate, with a deltoid, subacute wing along the lower margin; anther-cap abaxially without a crest, surface colliculate, front margin drawn out into a rounded beak; pollinia not seen. (After Vermeulen, 2008)
Colours: Sepals golden-yellow, the dorsal a paler yellow proximally, the laterals red-purple in the proximal third, petals white, lip pale orange-brown, base white, column white, anther-cap creamy white.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-2325M.jpg.