Bulbophyllum ascochilum J.J.Verm., Nordic J. Bot. 26 (2008) 133, fig. 3
Type: Leiden cult. 940422 (holo L), from PNG
Roots sprouting mainly below or near the pseudobulbs. Rhizome 3-4 mm in diameter, sections between pseudobulbs 1-1.5 cm long, creeping, bracts not persistent. Pseudobulbs 2.3-3.2 by 0.8-1 cm, somewhat distant, ovoid. Leaves: petiole 1.8-3 cm long; blade 8.5-11 by 2.4-3.5 cm, index (length/width) 3.1-3.7 (elliptic-) obovate, acute (-acuminate). Inflorescence 11-22 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle 6-16 cm long, erect to patent; non-floriferous bracts c. 3, the longest 6-9 mm long; floral bract c. 14 mm long, tubular, acuminate. Flowers widely opening. Pedicel-with-ovary c. 38 mm long, basal node on a c. 12 mm long stump. Dorsal sepal c. 40 by 4 mm, index c. 10, reflexed, ovate, acute, margins entire, base rather broadly attached, rather thin, surface glabrous. Lateral sepals c. 43 by 7.5 mm, index 5.7-5.8, free, base rather broadly attached, otherwise as the dorsal sepal. Petals c. 11 by 3.8 mm, index c. 2.9, porrect, clawed, elliptic, acute, margins slightly erose and very finely papillose, base broadly attached, rather thin, surface glabrous. Lip c. 43 by 12 mm including a claw of c. 4 mm, index c. 3.6, attached to the column-foot by a transverse, semi-circular area and immobile, straight, ovate, shortly clawed, acute-acuminate, margins entire, rather thin and spongy; adaxially with a transverse ridge just above the area of attachment marking the starting point of two short, parallel, rather high, rounded, thin keels continuing over c. 3 mm of the length of the lip, adaxial surface otherwise distinctly convex, surface with scattered papillae and tiny groups of papillae on top of slightly larger, inconspicuous verrucae; abaxially with two broad, rounded, diverging keels and convex near the base, otherwise deeply concave, slightly furrowed along the median line, surface glabrous. Column c. 3.8 mm long, hardly curved; stigma narrowly triangular, without keels inside; foot distinctly widened; stelidia c. 0.5 mm long, deltoid, acute, with a deltoid, obtuse tooth along the lower margin; anther-cap abaxially with a high, conical, acute crest, surface papillose, front margin not drawn out; pollinia 4, obovoid, the inner flat, somewhat enveloped by the recurved lateral sides of the outer; no appendages. (After Vermeulen, 2008)
Colours: Sepals white with large purple blotches proximally, grading into a pale purple staining distally, lateral sepals only with purple distally, petals translucent with a greenish mid-nerve and blackish purple spots along the margins, lip dull purple with numerous blackish purple dots, column whitish with some purple staining.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea.