Bulbophyllum cycloglossum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 885
Type: Schlechter 18735 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, L)
Rhizome creeping, 0.8-1.2 mm diam. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 0.15-0.5 cm apart, 0.3-0.7 by 0.2-0.4 cm, not or hardly flattened. Petiole 0.5-7 mm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 0.4-2.5 by 0.1-0.3 cm, index 2-10, tip obtuse to acute. Inflorescence 0.9-2.6 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 0.3-2 cm; bracts c. 2, the longest 1.5-2 mm. Floral bracts tubular, 1.3-1.8 mm, tip obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 4-7.5 mm, with the node 0.8-2 mm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, 3.6-6 by 2-2.8 mm, index 1.6-3, tip acute to shortly acuminate; margins glabrous or slightly papillose towards the tip; thin; surface glabrous (see note). Lateral sepals free or partly connate along their lower margin, oblique, ovate to elliptic, 4-7.2 by 1.9-2.2 mm, index 2.1-4; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals absent, or, if present, elliptic, c. 0.1 by 0.3 mm, index 0.3, tip rounded; thin; glabrous. Lip slightly curved, general outline ovate to elliptic, 0.7-1 by 0.6-0.9 mm, index 1-1.3 (not spread), tip broadly rounded; rather thin; glabrous; adx. approx. without a basal concavity, approx. without basal teeth, concave because of the upwards curved margins, with a shallow, open slit close to the tip; abx. without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 1-1.4 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma elliptic, protruding at its base; column-foot with a small, approx. straight, obtuse central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther abx. with a wide ridge; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Sepals translucent white, with purple veins, or sepals entirely (dark) purple. Lip purple. Column white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 2500 m.
Flowering time in the wild: November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-454M.jpg.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.