Bulbophyllum xanthophaeum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 729
Type: Schlechter 16943 (holo B, lost); para: 17242 (B, lost; NB: Also type number of Bulbophyllum navicula); 18131 (B, lost); 19019 (B, lost); 19156 (B, lost)
Epiphyte, erect or spreading, 10-25 cm long. Rhizome stem-like, covered with cucullate sheaths. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 1.5-2.3 cm apart, cylindrical, 0.8-1.3 by 0.3-0.45 cm below the middle; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, elliptic or elliptic-ligulate, subacute, or minutely apiculate, glabrous, 4-8 by 1.3-2.8 cm near the middle. Inflorescence 1-flowered, very short, covered with a few peduncle-scales. Floral bracts similar to the sheaths, more or less shorter than the ovary. Flower rather small in the genus. Sepals oblong, apiculate, glabrous, 0.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, at the base the upper margin hardly dilated. Petals obliquely broadly rhombic, subacute, 0.13 cm long; margins in the middle subangular. Lip immobile, narrowly oblong-ligulate, obtuse, minutely and very slightly warty, 0.55 cm long; underneath grooved. Column slightly curved; stelidia quadrangular, in front truncate, upper margin serrate-lacerate; column-foot almost absent. Anther cordate-cucullate, glabrous, umbo large, apiculate. Ovary sessile, glabrous, 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower yellow with brown shading. Lip dark brown with yellow apex.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 450-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, August, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-2002M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.