Bulbophyllum trirhopalon Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 883
Type: Schlechter 18726 (holo B, lost)
Epiphyte, pendulous, not or sparsely branched, to 60 cm long. Rhizome stem-like. Roots filiform, glabrous. Pseudobulbs 4-5 cm apart, cylindrical, c. 3 by 0.25-0.3 cm below the middle; 1-leaved. Leaf elliptic, acuminate, 9-12 by 3-3.7. cm near the middle. Inflorescences 1-flowered, very short, with few sheaths. Floral bract very small, distinctly shorter than the ovary. Median sepal concave, ovate, acute, glabrous, 1.4 cm long. Lateral sepals deflexed, elliptic, obtuse, glabrous, 1.1 cm long. Petals obliquely oblong-ligulate; apex with 3 ovoid, acuminate, minutely papillose-puberulous, stalked appendages which in the narrower apical part are covered with patent bristly hairs; petals including the appendages 1.1 cm long. Lip fleshy, ovoid, rostrate-acuminate, 0.7 cm long; base with 2 large concave auricles; above 2-ribbed; underneath densely papillose. Column thick; stelidia very short; column-foot somewhat incurved. Anther quadrangular-cucullate, in front retuse, with a very large umbo, glabrous. Ovary subsessile, cylindrical, glabrous, 1 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)
Colours: Flower green, inside spotted red. Lip red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1775-2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February, July, November.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1896M.jpg.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires shaded position.