Bulbophyllum heterorhopalon Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 882
Type: Schlechter 19483 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, pendulous, not or sparsely branched, to 50 cm long. Rhizome stem-like. Roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs cylindrical 1.5-4 cm apart, 0.8-1.3 by 0.3 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf elliptic, minutely apiculate, 3-4.5 by 1.2-1.8 cm near the middle. Inflorescences 1-flowered, fascicled, developing in succession, short, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts much shorter than the ovary. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 0.8 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals transverse; base 0.25 cm wide; on the lower side extended into an oblong, obtuse, lobe; in the middle with an arm carrying 5 unequally large pestle- or club-shaped, densely papillose, distinctly stalked appendages, on the upper side with a very small, falcate-linear, at the top uniformly swollen appendage; petals including the longest appendage up to 0.5 cm long. Lip fleshy, elliptic, subobtuse, 0.3 cm long; base with 2 auricles; margins prickly with crystalline papillae. Column short, thick; stelidia very short, with a few irregularly teeth; column-foot somewhat incurved. Anther cordate-cucullate, umbonate, glabrous; apex retuse, bicuspidate. Pedicel and ovary glabrous, 0.7 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-802M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.