Bulbophyllum virescens J.J.Sm., Bull. Inst. Bot. Buitenzorg 7 (1900) 3
Type: J.J. Smith s.n. (Ambon, on the top of the Tuna) (holo BO; iso L in spirit 10264)
Roots along the entire rhizome. Rhizome 4-10 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 8-24 cm long, bract fibres hardly persistent. Pseudobulbs distant, cylindrical or slightly obovoid, flattened, 7-18 by 0.8-2 cm. Petiole 4-8 cm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 16-38 by 5.5-17 cm, index (length/width) 2-3.5; acute to acuminate. Inflorescence erect to patent, 15-55 cm long, a subumbellate raceme, 4-12-flowered. Peduncle 13-48 cm, bracts 7-9, the longest 18-27 mm long. Rachis 0.4-1.2 cm. Floral bracts ovate, 14-25 by 3.5-18 mm, acute. Flowers resupinate, moderately and simultaneously opening. Pedicel and ovary 10-40 mm long, basal node about flush with the surface of the rachis, ovary ribs rounded, straight. Median sepal recurved, ovate to triangular, 44-140 by 8-14 mm, index 4-10.5; long acuminate, margins entire, base narrowly attached; rather thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals free, recurved or spreading, oblique, ovate to triangular, 55-155 by 10-19 mm, index 4.1-8.1, base broadly attached, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals recurved, (ovate-)triangular, 25-60 by 6-12 mm, index 2.7-5; long acuminate, margins entire, base broadly attached; rather thin, glabrous. Lip recurved, ovate to subtriangular, widening and dorsoventrally flattened towards the base (in lateral profile highest about half-way the lip), 12-20 by 8-12 mm, index 1.1-1.6 (all without artificial spreading); obtuse to acute, rather thick and soft, glabrous or partially slightly rugose; adaxially almost flat near the base, convex and slightly furrowed towards the tip; abaxially with a weak retuse median ridge from the base to almost to the tip. Column 3.5-7 mm long, stigma inside with three keels, at its base without teeth, column foot without tooth just above the ligament. Stelidia triangular, 1-2.5 mm, narrowly triangular or subulate, usually with a small, antrorse, deltoid, obtuse to acute tooth along the upper margin, and always with a large, porrect with respect to the ovary, deltoid to semi-elliptic, rounded to subacute wing along the lower margin about half-way the column or close to the tip. Anther abaxially about glabrous and with an inconspicuous, rounded crest; front margin not drawn out, about glabrous. (After Vermeulen, ms.)
Colours: Sepals and petals pale greenish or yellowish, sometimes partly stained with some reddish brown, sometimes with dark reddish purple spots (particularly plants from Java, see below). Lip whitish or pale yellow with white margins, often with a large pinkish purple blotch in the centre, sometimes entirely suffused with reddish purple. Flowers strongly fetid.
Flowering time in the wild: January, May, June, July, October, November, December.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Moluccas, New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1964M.jpg.