Bulbophyllum planitiae J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 39 (1910) 4
Type: Römer, von 569 (not BO)
Rhizome pendulous, terete, perforating the base of the pseudobulbs, with appressed roots and overlapping, shortly subulate-acuminate, strongly veined scales. Pseudobulbs rather apart, spirally arranged, appressed and with the base adnate to the rhizome, quadrangular, c. 1.1 cm long; apex free, slightly recurved, 0.5 cm long; underneath strongly concave; sides concave; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate, acute, c. 7.3-7.5 by 1.75 cm; base narrowed into a sulcate, 0.5-0.6 cm long petiole; midrib above grooved, underneath obtuse, prominent. Inflorescences fascicled, very short, covered with membranous scales, 1-flowered,; peduncle 0.8 cm long. Flowers small. Median sepal lanceolate, thinly subulate-acuminate, concave, 3-nerved, 0.65 by 0.17 cm. Lateral sepals obliquely narrowly lanceolate, thinly subulate-acuminate, concave, 3-nerved, 0.75 by 0.2 cm; inner margin incurved-swollen. Petals minute, obliquely oblong, falcate, broadly obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.16 by 0.07 cm; base slightly dilated. Lip mobile, tongue-shaped, subobtuse; basal part concave, with thin, erect margins, 0.28 by almost 0.1 cm; top part convex; underneath longitudinally concave, the basal part puberulous. Column 0.18 cm long; stelidia thinly subulate exceeding the anther; column-foot straight making an obtuse angle with the ovary, with incurved apex, 0.08 cm long. Anther cucullate, suborbicular, c. 0-06 cm long; apex extended in a rather large, broadly obtuse, above convex, underneath concave appendage. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, inner ones much smaller and thinner than the outer ones. Ovary pedicellate, 0.3 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Flower yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1445M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.