Bulbophyllum spongiola J.J.Verm., Blumea 41 (1996) 361, fig. 12
Type: Jongejan cult. 109 (holo L)
Rhizome patent to pendulous, 3-4 mm diam. Pseudobulbs 1-leafed, ovoid to ellipsoid, 2.0-2.6 cm apart, 1.5-2.0 by 0.7-1.2 cm, not flattened. Petiole 3-4 mm. Leaf blade elliptic, 4.5-7.5 by 1.2-2.0 cm, index (length/width) 2.2-6.3, acute. Inflorescence 3.0-3.5 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 2.0-2.5 cm; bracts 3, the longest 3.5-4.0 mm, acute. Floral bract tubular, 4.0-4.5 mm, cuspidate. Pedicel and ovary 11-13 mm, with the node 3-4 mm from floral bract. Flowers fully opening. Median sepal recurved, somewhat concave, ovate, c. 11.0 by 3.5 mm, index (length/width) 3.1-3.2, obtuse, margins entire, ciliate, base rather broadly attached; thin; surface glabrous; with 5 veins which are not prominent abaxially. Lateral sepals free, hardly falcate, somewhat oblique, otherwise as the median sepal. Petals erect, not falcate, oblique, elliptic to ovate, c. 3.2 by 2.5 mm, index (length/ width) 1.2-1.34, tip acute; margins entire, very finely ciliate; base rather broadly attached; thin; surface glabrous; with 1 vein. Lip hardly curved in the basal half, general outline elliptic, c. 9.0 by 2.5 mm, index (length/width) c. 3.6 (not spread), tip rounded; very thick but very soft; generally glabrous; adaxially with a concave basal part in which a distinct, conical, obtuse, papillose callus; abaxially without a median ridge; with two small, triangular, thick, subacute auricles near the base. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 2.0-2.2 mm long; column foot widened and with distinct, about ovate, obtuse lateral wings at its tip. Stelidia distinct, not falcate, subulate, 1.3-1.5 mm, acute, with a small, forwards directed, deltoid, subacute tooth wing along the upper margin, near its base; stigma protruding at its base, elliptic. Anther abaxially with the top part papillose, widely overtopping the front margin, and with a distinct, rounded ridge over most of its length; the front margin not protruding, not concave, truncate. Pollinia 4, ellipsoid, flattened on both sides, the inner more than half as long as the outer. Stipes absent. (After Vermeulen, 1996)
Colours: Sepals abaxially yellowish green, adaxially yellowish brown, the median with a large, dark red blotch in the centre, the laterals slightly spotted with dark red. Petals yellowish brown, with large, dark red spots. Lip yellow, somewhat spotted with dark red. Column almost white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 2000 m.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-2029M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.