Bulbophyllum subapetalum J.J.Sm., Meded. Rijks-Herb. 23 (1915) 13
Type: Janowsky 411 (holo BO; iso L)
Rhizome patent or pendulous, up to 50 cm long, 2-3 mm diam. Pseudobulbs approx. cylindrical, 2.5-4.5 cm apart, 1-1.6 by 0.2-0.35 cm, not flattened; new shoots arising just below the tip of the pseudobulb. Petiole 2-4 mm. Leaf blade ovate, 4.8-9 by 0.61.4 cm, index 4.5-9, tip acute. Inflorescence 2.2-3 cm, 1-flowered. Peduncle 0.5-1 cm; bracts 2-3, the longest 3.5-4 mm. Floral bracts tubular, 3-3.5 mm, tip acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 7-10 mm, with the node 2-2.5 mm from the floral bract. Flowers widely opening. Median sepal ovate, 8-18 by 2.3-4.5 mm, index 3.4-4.8, tip long acuminate to caudate; margins finely ciliate; thin; surface glabrous. Lateral sepals free, oblique, 8-18 by 2.5-4.5 mm, index 3.2-4.5; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals ovate, 0.3-0.4 by 0.5-0.8 mm, index 0.4-0.8, tip apiculate; thin; glabrous. Lip slightly curved, general outline ovate, 2-4.5 by 0.9-2.3 mm, index 1.9-2.9 (not spread), tip a thick, cylindrical, obtuse appendage of 0.8-1.5 mm long; thick; glabrous; adx. with a distinct basal concavity, basal teeth converging, together forming a transverse ridge, basal part of the lip concave, with a rather distinct, loop-shaped callus, passing with a transverse ridge (= the front edge of the loop) into the top part of the lip, top part of the lip convex but with a transverse impression in front of the loop; abx. with an inconspicuous, truncate median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the rostellum 0.8-1.5 mm; rostellum distinctly protruding; stigma slit-like, slightly protruding at its base or not; column-foot with a distinct, approx. straight, obtuse central knob above the attachment of the lip. Anther abx. with a ridge towards its tip; front margin protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Sepals and petals yellow. Lip yellow, near the base red towards the margins; tip of the lip blue (correct?).
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest.
Flowering time in the wild: May, June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1772M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.