Bulbophyllum semiasperum J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66 (1934) 206
Type: Mayr 617 (holo L)
Rhizome creeping, covered with tubular, dark brown-punctate sheaths, the last sheath subtending the pseudobulb, long, laterally compressed-acuminate, prominently nerved, 3.25 cm long. Pseudobulbs 1.6-1.7 cm apart, making an acute angle with the rhizome, when dried elongate-conical, longitudinally rugose, c. 3-3.2 cm long. Leaf sublanceolate-linear, subcoriaceous, rather rigid, c. 25 by 0.8-1 cm when dried; base gradually narrowed, conduplicate; apex gradually narrowed, acute; midrib above grooved, below keeled; margins in dried leaf revolute; on both sides densely minutely punctuate. Inflorescence from the base of the pseudobulbs, much shorter than the leaves, producing with intervals up to 6 flowers. Inflorescence filiform, c. 12 cm long, with c. 4 upwards laxly placed tubular sheaths; rachis thickened, flexuose, 0.9 cm long. Floral bracts alternating, distichous, erect-patent, concave, acuminate, punctate, 0.63 cm long; base obliquely infundibuliform. Median sepal linear, 7-nerved, 1.8 by almost 0.3 cm; above the base on either side with a patent, acute tooth, channelled; apex gradually long narrowed, acute, conduplicate; minutely punctate. Lateral sepals inserted far from the median sepal, obliquely oblong-lanceolate, keeled, c. 9-nerved, c. 2 by almost 0.6 cm above the base; base slightly contracted, above the base slightly falcate; apex narrowed, conduplicate, acute; minutely punctate. Petals obliquely lanceolate-triangular, gradually very narrowly acute; base in front with somewhat oblique dilated margin, shortly decurrent on the column-foot, 0.87 by 0.2 cm at the base, above the base 0.25 cm wide. Lip (strongly compressed) above the base recurved, fleshy, in outline subovate-oblong, at l/4th above the base slightly constricted, 5-nerved, the nerves branched, 1.4 by 0.4 cm at the constriction; hypochile serrate, 0.47 cm wide, inside almost to the middle of the lip covered with conical warts; epichile oblong-ovate, to the apex gradually narrowed, obtuse, subentire, slightly crenulate, 1 by 0.45 cm. Column moderately long, almost straight, at the back convex, including the anther 0.6 cm, without the anther 0.45 cm long; clinandrium hollow, back wall truncate, filament linear; stigma deeply concave; column-foot making an acute angle with the ovary, and an obtuse angle with the column, straight, truncate, 0.37 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, furfuraceous-punctate, 0.67 cm long; pedicel less densely punctate, 0.46 cm long. (After Smith, 1934)
Colours: Leaves on both sides densely minutely dark brown-punctate. Sepals minutely black-punctate. Ovary black-furfuraceous-punctate. Flower yellowish-pink.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1674M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.