Bulbophyllum apodum Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5 (1890) 766; Hooker's Icon. Pl. 21 (1890) t. 2043
Type: Scortechini s.n. (syn K); Kew Distr. (Maingay 3244) 1619 (syn K)
Epiphyte up to 25 cm high. Rhizome thick, terete, glabrous, with many roots. Roots filiform, elongated, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs very small. Leaves oblong-ligulate, obtuse, very minutely apiculate, coriaceous, glabrous, 16-23 by 2-3.5 cm; petiole somewhat terete, in front sulcate, 6-8 cm long. Inflorescence rather laxly multi-flowered, racemose, as long as the leaves or shorter; peduncle almost as long as the petiole, terete, glabrous; covered with clasping, acuminate, sheaths which gradually pass in the bracts. Floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, exceeding the ovary. Median sepal linear, acute, 0.5 cm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals obliquely lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, as long as the median sepal; front margin at the base dilated. Petals linear-ligulate, subobtuse, subfalcate, 0.3 cm long. Lip oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, slightly fleshy, 0.4 cm long; base curved, auriculate, with two swellings. Column very short, rather thick, the base with swellings; stelidia short, tooth-like, obtuse; column-foot elongated. Ovary clavate, glabrous, included the short pedicel 0.3-0.4 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1905)
Colours: Flower pale yellowish.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 91-2900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, June, July, September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, New Guinea, Philippines), Thailand, ?Laos, Vietnam.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-124M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.
Note: Some records of this species may be referable to the very similar Bulbophyllum unguiculatum Rchb.f. This needs further study.