Bulbophyllum manobulbum Schltr. in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 207
Type: Schlechter 15743 (holo B, lost); neo: Schlechter 19005 (BM, K, chosen by Vermeulen 1993)
Rhizome creeping, 0.7-1.5 mm diam. Roots present along the entire rhizome. Pseudo-bulbs ovoid to ellipsoid, 1.5-21 cm apart, 0.8-3 by 0.3-1.5 cm, somewhat flattened. Petiole 1-6 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 2-7 by 0.5-2 cm, index 2.8-6, tip obtuse to subacute. Inflorescences usually single, sometimes few together on a short sympodium, 1.52.8 cm, 1(-2)-flowered. Peduncle 0.6-1.0 cm; bracts 2-3, the longest 2-3 mm. Rachis if present erect, 0.1-0.2 cm. Floral bracts ovate, 2.5-3 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 4.5-10 mm, with the node 0.8-1.3 mm from the floral bract. Flowers open at the time (if 2 present), widely opening. Median sepal ovate to elliptic, 5.5-8 by 1.7-2.2 mm, index 3-4.2, tip acute; thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals slightly oblique, ovate, 6-7.5 by 1.7-2.2 mm, index 3.2-4.6, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals hardly oblique, ovate to elliptic, 3-3.8 by 1-1.6 mm, index 2.2-3.3, otherwise as the median sepal. Lip strongly curved, general outline ovate, sometimes slightly constricted approx. half-way, 11.4 by 1-1.2 mm, index c. 1.2 (not spread), tip obtuse to acute; rather thick; glabrous; adx. moderately concave and with 2 inconspicuous knobs near the base, with 2 inconspicuous ridges converging in front, abx. with an inconspicuous, retuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 0.8-1.2 mm; stigma hardly protruding at its base, slit-like. Stelidia inconspicuous, triangular, tip acute; upper margin somewhat irregular. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its base; front margin hardly protruding. Pollinia 2. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Plant dark green. Sepals and petals pale yellow, either suffused with pale purple or not. Lip yellow, purplish towards the base.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 460-1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, July, September, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1099M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.