Bulbophyllum kempfii Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17 (1921) 379
Type: Kempf s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, border between German- and Engl. N. Guinea) (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, to 55 cm high. Roots filiform, flexuose, slender, glabrous. Pseudobulbs more sectionis superposed, cylindrical, the lower ones c. 5 by 0.3 cm, the upper ones slightly more than half as long; 1-leaved. Leaf ligulate, subacute, somewhat narrowed towards the base, thinly coriaceous, 4-5 by 0.6-0.9 cm near the middle. Inflorescences 1-flowered, single, short; peduncle with few small, 0.5 cm long scales. Floral bracts ovate, apiculate, almost 3 times shorter than the pedicellate ovary: flower slender, similar to and about as big as in Bulbophyllum rhodoglossum Schltr. Sepals lanceolate, long and subobtusely acuminate, glabrous, 1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, 1.3 cm long. Petals obliquely ligulate-oblong, obtuse, 1-nerved; base of the front margin slightly dilated; apex outside thickened, papillose-finely warty, 0.23 cm long. Lip elliptic-lanceolate, subobtuse; base with 2 short auricles; above the base with a very small, papillose callus; margins in basal half densely and shortly papillose-finely ciliate, 0.55 by 0.23 cm below the middle. Column short for the section; column-foot short. Ovary slender pedicellate, glabrous, 0.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1921)
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte; 1900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-909M.jpg.
Cultivation: Epiphyte.