Bulbophyllum tortum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 744
Type: Schlechter 18454; 19941 (B, lost)
Rhizome 4-10 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 7-15 cm long, bract fibres rather thick, persistent. Pseudobulbs ovoid to cylindrical, 1.3-5 by 0.9-2.5 cm. Petiole 1.5-2.8 cm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 9-35 by 3.5-6.5 cm, index (length/width) 3-5.4; rounded to obtuse. Flowers not much opening. Median sepal recurved with incurved top part, elliptic to (ob-)ovate, 13-19 by 8-11 mm, index 1.5-1.9; subacute to shortly acuminate, base narrowly attached. Lateral sepals free, with downwards (c. in the direction of the tip of the petals) curved top part, ovate-triangular to triangular, 15-23 by 7-12 mm, index 1.7-2.3; base widely attached; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals recurved with incurved top part, elliptic to (ob-)ovate, 13-17 by 6-9 mm, index 1.9-2.7; obtuse to acute, base rather narrowly attached. Lip somewhat recurved, triangular with a drawn-out, slightly widened top part, 6-8 by 2.5-5 mm, index 1.4-2.4 (all without artificial spreading); rounded, margins with an acute angle above the base when the lip is observed in lateral view; thick; adaxially concave near the base, with 2 short, inconspicuous, proximally diverging ridges at about 1/3 of the length of the lip, convex towards the tip; abaxially with a retuse ridge nearly up to the top of the lip, top part somewhat concave. Column 4.5-6 mm long, c. straight in profile, stigma without teeth at the base, column foot without ridges. Stelidia porrect, triangular, 1-2 mm long, obtuse to acute, slightly above half-way the length of the column with a porrect or somewhat antrorse, triangular, obtuse to acute tooth along the lower margin. (After Vermeulen, ms.)
Colours: Sepals greenish or pinkish, blackish purple towards the tip and margins, with blackish purple spots. Petals whitish or pinkish, with blackish purple spots. Lip red, blackish towards the tip, with a yellow patch on the upper and lower surface. Flowers only vaguely scented.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland (gallery) forest; 0-400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, May, July, October, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1855M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.