Bulbophyllum tricanaliferum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 398
Type: Gjellerup 1029 (holo BO)
Rhizome elongated, creeping, terete, 0.4 cm, diam. Roots rather thick, especially produced by the nodes. Pseudobulbs c. 4-5.5 cm apart, obliquely erect, elongate-conical, obtuse, in cross-section obtusely subrhombic, c. 3.4-4 by 0.85 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf petiolate, lanceolate, concave, fleshy, c. 8.5-11 by 1.65-2.1 cm (when dried); petiole conduplicate-channelled, c. 2.8-5 cm long; apex conduplicate-channelled, obtuse, obtusely angled. Inflorescences from the nodes of the rhizome, 1-flowered; peduncle terete, c. 19-20 cm long, with c. 5 small, tubular, acute, keeled, higher up laxly placed, to c. 1.5 cm long sheaths. Floral bract tubular, to the top somewhat inflated and split in front, slightly acuminate-acute, keeled, c. 2.1 cm long. Flower large. Median sepal porrect, when flattened in total c. 11 cm long; basal third subovate-elliptic, concave, c. 2.5 by 1.3 cm, dorsally and along the margins densely verruculose-papillose, inside patently pilose, the midrib dorsally obtusely keeled, on either side with c. 3 nerves, with reticulate veins, the nerves and veins inside and outside prominent, between the veins diaphanous; apex contracted in an elongated, subterete, acute, on the upper side grooved, 0.17 cm wide tail. Lateral sepals with the base obliquely decurrent on the column-foot; basal 1/5th irregularly oblong, when flattened c. 2.5 by 0.95 cm, concave, the margins above the base incurved and contiguous, dorsally densely puberulous, inside sparsely pilose, 5-6-nerved, reticulate-veined, the nerves and veins inside and outside prominent; apex contracted in an elongated, linear, channelled-subterete, acute, laxly twisted, c. 9 cm long tail. Petals very small, parallel, porrect, in total c. 2.35 cm long; basal part obliquely angular-ovate-triangular, 0.75 by 0.45 cm, with recurved margins, 5-nerved, nerves inside and outside prominent, the outer ones very short, somewhat fleshy, semitransparent; apex contracted in a straight, for the larger part clavate-thickened, acute, convex, in the middle longitudinally channelled, minutely papillose antenna. Lip mobile, strongly curved, fleshy, oblong-ovate, narrowed to the apex, obtuse, 0.47 by 0.27 cm; base truncate and inside thickened, at c. 1/3rd above the base convex, with a small longitudinal channel which extends to the apex; beyond this with two weak ridges close to the margin, the concave area in between with a patch of retrorse hairs; underneath with a distinct median ridge, the margins especially in the basal part minutely papillose. Column short, laterally compressed, 0.33 cm long; stelidia obliquely quadrangular, more or less acuminate. Anther cucullate, somewhat laterally compressed, curved; apex widely truncate; connective convex, longitudinally grooved at the back, 0.18 cm long. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, somewhat semiobovate, slightly falcate, outside convex, the inner ones much smaller than the outer ones; stigma longitudinal, oblong; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, oblong, to the apex somewhat narrowed, concave, the apex obtusely hooked, incurved and free, truncate, 0.45 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, densely furfuraceous-finely punctate, c. 1.3 cm long; pedicel thick, sparsely punctate, c. 3.5 cm long, 0.9 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1916)
Colours: Pseudobulbs and leaves usually brown-red. Flower yellow with numerous browsn-red dots and spots.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; terrestrial in granite rubble along a lake; 1900-2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April, October, December.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1867M.jpg.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial.