 "Bulbophyllum nematopodum" was first formally described in 1873 by Ferdinand von Mueller who published the description in "Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae" from a specimen collected by John Dallachy near Rockingham Bay.The specific epithet ("nematopodum") is derived from the Ancient Greek words "nema" meaning "thread" and "pous" meaning “foot”.The green cowl orchid grows on trees and rocks in rainforest where mists are common.