Bulbophyllum trinervium J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 18 (1935) 58, pl. 12, fig. 37
Type: Docters van Leeuwen 10325 (holo BO; iso L [sterile])
Rhizome elongated, creeping, branched, filiform, only rooting at the pseudobulbs; internodes elongated; tubular sheaths much shorter than the internodes. Pseudobulbs 0.6-1.9 cm apart, very small, making an acute angle with the rhizome, slightly curved, obliquely ovoid, 6-angled with concave sides, obtuse, 0.23-0.25 by 0.2 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf recurved, small, elliptic or more or less ovate, obtuse, mucronate, especially to the apex cellular-finely ciliate, 3-nerved (in larger leaves with 2 thin additional secundary nerves), 0.45-0.65 by 0.2-0.25 cm; base very shortly contracted; convex with a longitudinal groove. Inflorescences 1-flowered, solitary, surpassing the leaf; peduncle thin, 0.65 cm, long, at the base with few small, tubular scales. Floral bract infundibuliform-tubular, truncate, with a subulate apicule, 0.14 cm long. Flower 0.5 cm long; sepals cohering (always?). Median sepal oblong, gradually long subulate-acuminate, concave, 3-nerved, 0.48 by 0.16 cm; nerves dorsally prominent. Lateral sepals porrect, parallel, obliquely triangular, subulate-acuminate, acute, slightly falcate, slightly concave, 3-nerved, 0.5 cm long, over the lower margin 0.35 cm long; base 0.2 cm wide; nerves dorsally slightly raised. Petals porrect, vertical, gradually long subulate-acuminate, 1-nerved, slightly more than 0.3 by 0.08 cm; base obliquely oblong. Lip mobile, erect, convex, channelled, slightly 3-lobed, 3-nerved, thin, glabrous, without callus, in total 0.2 by 0.13 cm; base very shortly contracted, when flattened ovate; at 2/5 above the base recurved, in the 3/5 lower part the sides erect-patent; lateral lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe convex, triangular, acute, 0.12 by 0.08 cm; apex slightly recurved, with convex tip. Column short, below the middle constricted, dorsally convex, 0.1 cm long; clinandrium deeply concave, obliquely truncate; stelidia obliquely quadrangular, truncate; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, straight, linear, truncate, 0.18 cm long. Anther cucullate, strongly laterally compressed, 0.05 cm long; connective thickened; apex elongated in a subulate beak. Ovary short, obconical, 6-ribbed, 0.07 cm long; pedicel thin, 0.45 cm long, 0.1 cm above the base articulate. (After Smith, 1935)
Colours: Flower white with red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest, in moss on thin stems; 250 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1892M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.