Bulbophyllum tectipetalum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 450, pl. 73, fig. 97
Type: Thomsen 858 (holo L; iso BO, also alc.)
Rhizome creeping, terete, almost 0.2 cm diam., only rooting at the base of the pseudobulbs; internodes elongated, initially covered with tubular, keeled apiculate sheaths which are shorter than the internodes. Pseudobulbs 0.8-1.8 cm apart, erect, making an acute angle with the rhizome, oblong, quadrangular, the sides obtusely angled, concave, c. 1.7-1.85 by 0.65-0.73 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf lanceolate; base narrowed and conduplicate, somewhat fleshy, c. 3.7-6.7 by 0.8-1.1 cm; apex slightly recurved, obtuse; above on either side of the midrib slightly channelled, slightly convex. Inflorescences from the nodes of the rhizome, 1-flowered; peduncle thin, terete, c. 3.7-4.3 cm long, in the basal part with small, tubular, keeled, apiculate sheaths which are higher up more laxly places and larger. Floral bract tubular, truncate, subulate-apiculate; midrib dorsally prominent, 0.3 cm long. Flower medium size. Median sepal elliptic, 5-nerved at the base, the outer nerves branched, almost 1 by 0.54 cm; apex with incurved margins, channelled, very shortly conical-apiculate-acuminate; inside and along the margins densely coarsely puberulous. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic, apiculate, the facing margins narrowly acutely bent inwards, crispate, 5-nerved, c. 1-1.1 by 0.48-0.5 cm; inside coarsely puberulous. Petals very small, porrect, broad, strongly oblique, minutely papillose-finely ciliate, 1-nerved, with 1 small additional nerve, 0.33 by 0.2 cm; the facing margins touching, obtusely angled, forming a roof; the posterior margins dilated in a conspicuous, obliquely rounded lobule; apex unilaterally oblong, contracted, subacute. Lip mobile, porrect; basal quarter thickened, above the base somewhat bilobed, strongly recurved, 0.2 by 0.2 cm, with near the base 2 reversed, vertical, rounded auricles, channelled, in front convex with a small longitudinal channel, small keels 2 longitudinal in front extended divergent in a small channel, in total 0.7 cm long; appendage making an obtuse angle with the basal part, elongated, wavy, linear, subobtuse, convex, underneath channelled, 0.06 cm wide. Column short, straight, dorsally on either side with a conspicuous longitudinal groove, 0.15 cm long; stelidia porrect, hardly surpassing the anther, acute. Anther cucullate, cordate, 0.06 cm long; apex slightly recurved, obtuse. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, inner ones smaller than the outer ones.; stigma deeply concave, inversely triangular; column-foot short, thick, making an obtuse angle with the ovary, 0.1 5 cm long, the upper half obtusely angled, incurved and free from the lateral sepals, its apex strongly dilated and on either side with an incurved, obtuse, projecting, below the stigma callus in front hollow lobule. Ovary slightly curved, terete, 6-grooved, 0.3 cm long; pedicel thin, terete, c. 3.7 cm long, 0.28 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1929)
Colours: Flower yellow. Lip black.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 10 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1809M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.