Bulbophyllum pachyglossum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 125
Type: Kempter s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, area behind Vanimo) (holo B, lost)
Roots along the entire rhizome or mainly below the pseudobulbs. Rhizome 6-10 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 12-16 cm long, bract fibres somewhat persistent, thin. Pseudobulbs distant, cylindrical, somewhat flattened, 3.5-6.5 by 1-1.2 cm. Petiole 3.5-6 cm. Leaf blade elliptic to slightly obovate, 13.5-25 by 3.8-10 cm, index (length/width) 2.2-4.8; acute. Inflorescence a dense raceme 8-27 cm, 4-8-flowered. Peduncle + erect to patent, 6-25 cm, bracts 6-9, the longest 20-35 mm long. Rachis arching, 2-3.5 cm. Floral bracts ovate, 17-33 by 10-12 mm, acuminate. Flowers not resupinate, not fully opening, many simultaneously. Pedicel and ovary 7-12 mm long, basal node + flush with the surface of the rachis, ovary ribs rounded, straight. Median sepal somewhat recurved, (ob-)ovate, 11-16 by 6-8 mm, index 1.8-2.3; acuminate, margins entire, base rather broadly attached; very thick; adaxially glabrous, abaxially densely papillose or very short hairy. Lateral sepals free, oblique, triangular, 13-18 by 8-10 mm, index 1.6-2, (acute-)acuminate, base broadly attached, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals porrect or slightly recurved, elliptic to obovate, 8-11 by 5.5-8 mm, index 1-1.6; acuminate or retuse to rounded and with a cauda up to c. 1.5 mm long, margins entire or slightly erose distally, base rather narrowly attached; rather thick, glabrous. Lip moderately recurved to sharply folded + half way, ovate, 6-8 by 4.5-5.5 mm, index 1.3-1.5 (all without artificial spreading); rounded, very thick; adaxially concave near the base, with 2 distinct, distally converging, rounded ridges over most of the length of the lip, surface glabrous but finely papillose in between the ridges; abaxially with a wide, retuse median ridge up to 2/3 of the length of the lip, surface glabrous. Column 3.5-7 mm long, stigma inside with three keels (those on the front wall wide and flat), at its base without teeth, column foot with a tiny tooth just above the ligament. Stelidia triangular, 1-2 mm, obtuse to acute, with or without a minute, antrorse, triangular, acute tooth along the upper margin, with a deltoid to triangular, rounded to obtuse wing along the lower margin. Anther abaxially + glabrous and with a rounded crest near the top; front margin slightly drawn out, erose. (After Vermeulen, ms.)
Colours: Floral bracts greenish or olive green, with or without purple spots. Sepals and petals pale green to bright yellow, with or without purple spots. Lip cream coloured, suffused with reddish purple, or reddish purple with a white base.
Habitat: Epiphyte; 1800-2000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1340M.jpg.
Cultivation: Epiphyte.