Bulbophyllum xyphoglossum J.J.Verm., de Vogel & A.Vogel, Blumea (2010) [in press]
Type: Leiden cult. 20080243 (holo LAE; iso L), from PNG, New Britain
Roots emerging scattered along the rhizome. Rhizome long-creeping, to 8 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs up to 9 cm long, bracts including fibres little persistent. Pseudobulbs ovoid-cylindrical, to 1.2 by 0.9 cm. Leaf with petiole up to 3.5 cm, blade elliptic-oblong, up to 20.5 by 5.8 cm, index (length/width) 3.5-3.6; rounded. Inflorescence c. 12 cm long, 1-flowered. Peduncle c. 2 cm long, bracts 3, the longest c. 15 mm long. Floral bracts tubular, c. 12 mm, acute. Flowers moederately opening. Pedicel and ovary c. 5.8 mm long, basal node on a c. 8 mm-long stump. Median sepal recurved, ovate-triangular, c. 46 by 11 mm, index c. 4.2; acute, margins entire, base narrowly attached; rather thick, glabrous. Lateral sepals as the median but oblique, falcate, triangular, c. 42 by 15 mm, index c. 2.8. Petals recurved, ovate, c. 41 by 7 mm, index 5.8-5.9; acute, margins entire; rather thick, glabrous. Lip recurved, narrowly ovate in general outline, c. 21 by 4.5 mm, index 4.6-4.7, subacute, margins entire; thick, glabrous; adaxially with a cavity proximally, with 2 high ridges converging in front of it and continuing as a high median crest; abaxially with a narrow, rounded median ridge. Column c. 5.5 mm long, stigma oblong, basal margin somewhat protruding, column foot without teeth. Stelidia porrect, deltoid, c. 1.5 mm long, rounded, with an antrorse, triangular, tapering, acute tooth along the lower margin. Anther abaxially with a papillose crest, surface otherwise approx. glabrous, front margin drawn out into a concave beak. Pollinia 4; ovoid, without appendage, the inner as long as the outer. (After Vermeulen et al., in press)
Colours: Sepals and petals pale green, distally green, proximally suffused with red. Lip cream-coloured, greenish distally, finely spotted with red. Column yellow distally.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 275 m.
Distribution: New Guinea.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-2363M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.