Bulbophyllum tanystiche J.J.Verm., Orchid Monogr. 7 (1993) 143, fig. 99
Type: Reeve 777 (holo K; iso L)
Rhizome pendulous, to 25 by 0.25 cm diam. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid to obovoid, 2-5.5 cm apart, 1.5-2.2 by 0.5-0.6 cm, (?) somewhat flattened. Petiole 4-7 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 4.5-8 by 1.1-1.9 cm, index 4-4.5; tip acute. Inflorescence 3.5-7.5 cm, 10-30-flowered; peduncle 1-1.5 cm. Floral bracts 3-4. the longest 5-6 mm. Rachis 2.5-6.5 cm. Floral bracts ovate, 1.2-2 mm; tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 1.3-1.5 mm, with the node 0.03 cm from the floral bract. Flowers moderately opening. Median sepal ovate, c. 2.8 by 1 mm, index c. 2.8; tip acute, thick, glabrous. Lateral sepals free, c. 3.2 by 1 mm, index c. 3.2; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals obovate-spathulate, c. 1.1 by 0.7 mm, index c. 1.6; tip rounded, margins and adaxially surface papillose towards the tip, thin. Lip slightly curved, general outline elliptic, c. 1.4 by 0.7 mm, index 2 (not spread); tip rounded, margins finely papillose, thick; surface papillose towards the margins; adaxially with a basal concavety, basal teeth converging, together forming a transversely ridge with a notch half-way, top part of the lip convex, with two obtuse longitudinal, parallel ridges; abaxially approximately without a median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 0.5 mm; rostellum not protruding; stigma approximately orbicular, slightly protruding at its base. Column-foot with an incurved, rounded central knob above the attachment of the lip. Stelidia inconspicuously, turned upwards, approximately triangular; tip acute, margins papillose. Anther abaxially with a broad ridge; front margin slightly protruding. (After Vermeulen, 1993)
Colours: Sepals and petals white, lip orange-red (?).
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1805M.jpg.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.