Bulbophyllum scyphochilus

Bulbophyllum scyphochilus Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 708

Type: Schlechter 17729 (holo B, lost); para: 16152; 19018 (B, lost)

Epiphyte, very small,10-13 cm high. Rhizome creeping, short. Pseudobulbs close together. Roots filiform, elongate, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs cylindrical-conical, 1.5-2 by 0.3-0.6 cm below the middle; 1-leaved; when older with many longitudinal grooves. Leaves erect, elliptic-ligulate, apiculate, or shortly acuminate, glabrous, 7-12 by 1.1-2 cm near the middle; base gradually narrowed into a short glabrous petiole. Inflorescences clustered, slender, wiry, glabrous, 5-6.5 cm long; peduncle-scales few, distant. Floral bracts minute, elliptic, clasping. Flower erect, not resupinated. Sepals oblong, apiculate, outside glabrous, inside pilose, flexuose, finely pilose, c. 1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals very small, oblong, subobtuse, 0.25 cm long; margins coarsely ciliate. Lip in outline ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, indistinctly verruculose-rugulose, 0.8 by 0.35 cm when not flattened; margins especially in basal half boat-like-incurved; in apical half slightly narrowed. Column slender, slightly curved, with slightly thickened base; column-foot indistinct; stelidia bidentate, the front tooth subulate, the other one half its size. Anther ovate-cucullate, high umbonate, glabrous. Pedicel and ovary wiry, glabrous, c. 1.5 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914)

Colours: Flower violet-red. Petals white, anterior half spotted with red. Lip darker violet-red.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 150-800 m.

Flowering time in the wild: May, June, September, December.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1669M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.

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