Bulbophyllum stabile J.J.Sm., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 2, 2 (1911) 16
Type: Bogor cult. (Lorentz Exp. (Djibdja) s.n. (Noord stream) (holo BO; iso L [probable, s.n. (1911), no coll., no loc])
Pseudobulbs close together, ovoid, with many longitudinal grooves, when young somewhat shiny, c. 1.3-1.5 by 0.7-1 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, subpetiolate, lanceolate, obtuse, shortly apiculate, c. 5.5-8 by 1.3-1.8 cm; midrib above grooved, underneath obtusely keeled. Inflorescences several from the nodes of the rhizome, erect, 1-flowered; peduncle filiform, in the basal part with a few tubular sheaths, c. 6.5 cm long. Flower medium size, c. 1.85 cm long. Sepals reflexed, lanceolate, very shortly acuminate, concave; base convex; nerves dorsally prominent; median sepal with slightly narrowed base, 3-nerved, c. 1.25 by 0.38 cm. Lateral sepals oblique, 5-nerved, c. 1.15 by 0.45 cm. Petals obliquely subrhombic, falcate, pointed, convex, hyaline, 0.13 by 0.07 cm. Lip large, porrect, immobile, clawed, in total c. 1.25 cm long; claw oblong-linear, with erect, towards the base more raised margins and lamella transversely connected, concave, underneath convex, with a longitudinal groove, very base hollow, 0.2 by 0.1 cm; blade narrowly oblong-ovate, subobtuse, strongly convex, margins not revolute, underneath concave, above almost glabrous, to the apex and margins minutely finely warty, when not flattened 0.4 cm wide. Column strongly curved, dorsally compressed, thin, with thickened base, somewhat translucent, 0.23 cm long; clinandrium with teeth; stelidia rather large, as long as the anther, quadrangular, bidentate; stigma longitudinal; column-foot short, wart-shaped. Anther cucullate, laterally compressed; connective thickened. Pollinia oblong, strongly laterally compressed. Ovary pedicellate, above 6-grooved, 0.3 cm above the base articulate, c. 2.25 cm long. (After Smith, 1911)
Colours: Pseudobulbs green. Leaf green. Inflorescence pale dirty green, above purple. Sepals dark purple. Petals with a dark purple median stripe and spots. Lip base with dark purple-margin; blade somewhat fleshy pale ochre, above minutely and underneath coarsely dark purple-punctate. Column with longitudinal, dark purple stripes; stigma yellow;. Anther yellow; connective red. Pollinia translucent, yellow. Ovary purple.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea (locality unknown);see map 96-1739M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.