Bulbophyllum ornatum

Bulbophyllum ornatum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 746

Type: Schlechter 17885; 19028 (B, lost)

Rhizome: sections between pseudobulbs 5-8 cm long. Pseudobulbs distant, ovoid, 3.3-4 by 1.2-1.6 cm. Leaf blade elliptic, 22-28 by 4.5-5.5 cm, index (length/width) 4.8-5.1; acuminate. Inflorescence erect to patent, 10-15 cm long, a subumbellate raceme, 2-5-flowered. Peduncle 10-15 cm., bracts few. Floral bracts shorter than the pedicel and ovary together. Flowers resupinate, moderately opening. Median sepal recurved, ovate, c. 27 by 12 mm, index c. 2.3; acuminate, margins entire, base rather narrowly attached; glabrous. Lateral sepals free, subtriangular, c. 70 by 20 mm, index c. 3.5, long acuminate, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals c. porrect, elliptic, c. 12 by 6.5 mm, index c. 1.8; obtuse, margins entire, shortly ciliate, base narrowly attached. Lip recurved, ovate, c. 10 by 7.5 mm, index c. 1.3 (all without artificial spreading); rounded, thick; adaxially concave near the base, surface papillose-verrucate near the base and towards the tip; abaxially with a retuse median ridge over most of the length of the lip. Column with the stelidia triangular, acuminate, with a slight tooth along the upper margin, with a large, downwards pointing, curved backwards, triangular, obtuse tooth along the lower margin, about half-way the length of the column. Anther abaxially with a distinct crest. (After Vermeulen, ms.)

Colours: Sepals and petals yellow, spotted with red. Lip very densely and finely spotted with red. Column yellow with a red foot.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 900-1000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: April, December.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1316M.jpg.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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