Bulbophyllum thrixspermiflorum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 9
Type: Versteeg 1221 (holo BO 2x; iso AMES, L)
Rhizome creeping, branched, terete, with tubular sheaths that are shorter than the internodes. Pseudobulbs when dried narrowly conical, 2-3.5 cm apart, 1.8-2.5 by 0.4-0.6 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, petiolate, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, acute, 10-14 by 1.7-2 cm; midrib grooved above, keeled below; petiole conduplicate, 2.5-4 cm long. Inflorescences from near the base of the pseudobulb, erect, elongate, longer than the leaves; peduncle thin, terete, 22-34 cm long, with several tubular sheaths; rachis flexuose, many-flowered, to c. 4 cm long, the internodes 0.25-0.4 cm long. Floral bracts alternate in two rows, obliquely erect, amplexicaul, obliquely cyathiform, long acuminate, acute, conspicuously keeled, 0.8-1 cm long. Flowers one open at a time, large, 14.5 by 2.5 cm. Median sepal erect, sublinear, gradually caudate-acuminate, very acute, concave, 6.7 by 0.7 cm; margin strongly incurved; 7-nerved, nerves prominent outside. Lateral sepals at the base falcate-decurved, similar to the median sepal but oblique, 7.9 cm by 0.85 cm at the base; margin strongly incurved; nerves 9, prominent outside. Petals minute, suboblique, broadly subovate, 3-nerved, 0.3 by 0.28 cm; apex 3-dentate, median tooth subulate, triangular, acute, concave, narrower and longer than the lateral teeth. Lip mobile, lanceolate-ovate, subobtuse, glabrous, 11-nerved, slightly fleshy, 2.8 by 0.87 cm; near the base decurved, with 2 small ribs. Column moderately long, 0.6 cm long, with truncate apex; stelidia short, wing-shaped, broadly obtuse; column-foot at right angles to the ovary, straight, truncate, fleshy, 0.6 cm long. Anther hood-shaped, semiglobose, 0.15 cm wide. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.7 cm long; pedicel 1.4 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Peduncle blackish brown. Bracts dark green. Sepals bright green with red-brown stripes. Petals almost entirely red-brown. Lip yellow with red-brown stripes. Column yellow. Pedicel light green.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 40 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1835M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.