Bulbophyllum acutilingue J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 4
Type: Versteeg 1303 (BO); 1389; 1530 (BO)
Rhizome pendulous, branched, to c. 20 cm long, perforating the pseudobulbs (pseudobulbs strongly elongated at their base), between the pseudobulbs free for 0.13-0.17 cm, initially covered with tubular, shortly abruptly acuminate, to 1-1.2 cm sheaths that are much shorter than the pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs subterete, 0.8-2.5 by 0.18 cm; apex free, in front concave, 0.l-0.2 cm long; 1-leaved. Leaf narrowly lanceolate, 3-5 by 0.55-0.75 cm, acuminate, very acute; base shortly contracted; above on either side of the mid-vein convex, fleshy. Inflorescences fasciculate from the nodes of the rhizome, very short, 1-flowered; base covered by sheaths. Inflorescence 0.4 cm long. Flower 1.25-1.6 cm wide. Median sepal ovate-oblong, subulate-acuminate, 3-nerved, 0.67-1 by 0.2 cm. Lateral sepals diverging, similar to the median sepal but oblique, 0.73-1.1 by 0.23 cm. Petals tiny, lanceolate, acute, in the middle constricted, 1-nerved, 0.2-0.23 by 0.06-0.07 cm. Lip mobile, slightly curved, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, very acute, convex, 0.47-0.56 by 0.1-0.14 cm; base longitudinally grooved, with 2 short keels; lower half in the middle papillose-verruculose and ciliate. Column short, 0.1 cm long; stigma longitudinally elliptic; stelidia filiform-subulate, longer than the anther; column-foot very short, apex somewhat widened, obtuse, 0.07 cm long. Anther hood-shaped; connective swollen. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, suborbicular, inner ones smaller. Ovary 6-grooved, with the pedicel 0.2-0.3 cm long. (after Smith, 1909)
Colours: Flowers white or yellowish-green. Sepals sometimes with 2 fine, pale violet-red stripes. Lip dull purplish, brownish or brownish violet-red, sometimes yellow near the apex. Column-foot sometimes red-violet.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest and coastal swamp forest; 0-400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, June, July, September, October, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-46M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.