Bulbophyllum frustrans J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 45 (1911) 8
Type: Bogor cult. (Exp. Lorentz, Djibdja 604) s.n. (holo BO, n.v.; ?iso L, probable, s.n., no coll.)
Rhizome elongated, pendulous, branched, terete, c. 10 cm long, below the pseudobulbs 0.23 cm diam., initially covered with tubular, acutely acuminate, membranous sheaths to c. 1 cm long; upper ones long persistent. Pseudobulbs c. 1.5-2.2 cm apart, appressed to or making an acute angle with the rhizome, oblong, laterally compressed, to 0.9 by 0.38 cm; underneath broadly concave, further longitudinally grooved; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate, hardly ovate, gradually somewhat acuminate, acute, 0.5-6 by 1.2-2 cm; base cuneate-narrowed; margins and apex recurved; midrib above grooved. Inflorescences in fascicles from the nodes of the rhizome, very short, 1-flowered; peduncle 0.35 cm long, entirely covered by small, tubular, acuminate, membranous, somewhat shiny sheaths. Flower very small, 0.65 cm wide, with reflexed sepals. Median sepal ovate-oblong, obtuse, acute apiculate; base convex; above concave; 3-nerved, 0.5 by 0.24 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, abruptly subulate-apiculate, convex, 0.54 by 0.3 cm; base 3-nerved, above concave. Petals very small, ovate-rhombic, acute, concave, upper side translucent punctate, c. 0-07 5 by 0.05 cm. Lip immobile, porrect, curved upwards, thick, oblong, 0.25 by 0.1 cm; basal half concave, its base with erect, short, rounded lateral lobes, near the back with a transverse lamella; top part convex, obtuse; underneath convex with a longitudinal groove; except for the cavity verrucose. Column rather slender, curved, 0.18 cm long; clinandrium dilated, dorsally deeply notched, lobes quadrangular laciniate; column-foot short, wart-shaped. Anther cucullate; connective thickened, c 0.03 cm long. Pollinia narrow. Ovary 0.16 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Pseudobulbs pale green, opaque. Leaf opaque, pale green. Peduncle pale. Median sepal at the base purple, to the apex yellow. Lateral sepals with the same colour as the lateral ones. Petals dark purple. Lip largely dark purple; base and cavity ochrish; apex yellow. Column whitish with violet base; column-foot purple. Anther green; pollinia pale green. Ovary green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 1800-2000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, March, April, August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-691M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.