Bulbophyllum leptophyllum W.Kittr., Bot. Mus. Leafl. 30 (1984, publ. 1985) 99 (nom.nov.)
Basionym: Bulbophyllum lonchophyllum Schltr. (1913)
Rhizome pendulous, up to 40 cm long, c. 0.7 mm diam. (seemingly thicker with loosely imbricate, finely papillose scales). Roots creeping over the rhizome. Pseudo bulbs cylindrical, 1-2 cm apart, c. 0.3 by 0.1 cm, hardly flattened. Petiole 1-2 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 3-6 by 0.4-1.1 cm, index 5-9, tip acute. Inflorescences up to 4 together on a short sympodium, pendulous, 1.2-1.3 cm, up to 6-flowered. Peduncle c. 0.5 cm; bracts 3-4, the longest 3-4 mm. Rachis up to 0.7 cm. Floral bracts elliptic, 3.5-4.5 mm, tip acute to acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 6-7 mm, with the node c. 3 mm from the floral bract. Flowers scattered, 1 open at the time, moderately opening. Median sepal approx. orbicular, c. 1.9 by 1.8 mm, index c. 1, tip a straight, subulate projection c. 0.7 mm long; margins finely papillose; thin; surface glabrous, abx. with a somewhat erose median keel. Lateral sepals oblique, ovate, c. 2 by 1.7 mm, index c. 1.2; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals with a claw up to 0.2 mm long; blade elliptic or slightly obovate, c. 1 by 0.5 mm, index c. 2, tip retuse, margins denticulate and finely papillose; very thin; surface glabrous. Lip 3-lobed, median lobe straight, general outline ovate, slightly narrowed towards the tip, c. 1.8 by 1 mm, index c. 1.8 (not spread), tip rounded; margins finely papillose towards the base; thick; adx. near the base with a short median ridge in a small concavity bordered by 2 large lobes, surface glabrous, finely papillose towards the margins near the base; abx. with two distinct rounded ridges, surface finely papillose; basal lobes with the frontal margins converging over the adaxial surface of the lip; falcate, approx. triangular, tip obtuse; finely papillose; thin. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia c. 1 mm; stigma somewhat protruding at its base, orbicular; column-foot without accessories. Stelidia inconspicuous, tip rounded; margins erose; with an approx. forwards projecting, deltoid, acute tooth along the lower margin. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its base; front margin not protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Rhizome scales brown. Leaves strongly suffused with red. Flowers yellowish white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1420 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-984M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.