Bulbophyllum unguilabium

Bulbophyllum unguilabium Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 812

Type: Schlechter 20139 (holo B, lost)

Epiphyte, very small. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs minute, cylindrical, 0.15-0.2 cm high; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, elliptic or often broadly elliptic, obtuse, or minutely apiculate, glabrous, 1.7-4.5 by 1-2.2 cm near the middle; base cuneate. Inflorescence 1-flowered, 0.5-0.7 cm long, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cucullate, almost as long as the ovary. Flower not resupinated. Sepals lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 1.1 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique, tightly connate to near the apex. Petals elliptic, shortly acuminate, 0.85 cm long; margins densely and very shortly finely ciliate. Lip linear, 3-lobed, 0.8 cm long; base with 2 minute auricles; lateral lobes very small, slightly divergent, semi-oblong, obtuse; mid-lobe consisting of a long, linear claw and a narrowly lanceolate, acuminate blade; margins of the blade densely feather-like long-ciliate; with a longitudinal median rib. Column short; stelidia linear-falcate, subacute; column-foot somewhat incurved, top callus-like thickened. Anther cucullate, glabrous. Ovary sessile, glabrous, 0.2 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)

Colours: Flower dark purple.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 1000 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea; see map 96-1925M.jpg.

Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.

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