Bulbophyllum filicaule

Bulbophyllum filicaule J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 404

Type: Bogor cult. (Exp. Lorentz, Djibdja 589) s.n. (syn BO); (Rachmat) 481 R (syn BO)

Rhizome only rooting at the base, pendulous, branched, filiform, to c. 13.5 by 0.03 cm, entirely covered with tubular, acuminate, keeled, soon become many-grooved veined, raised-puncticulate sheaths. Pseudobulbs 0.5-1 cm apart, very small, spirally arranged, appressed to the rhizome, underneath flattened, subcylindrical, 0.1.5-0.16 by 0.1 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf oblong, obtuse, apiculate or shortly acute, above longitudinally grooved, somewhat fleshy, 0.85-1.6 by 0.43-0.55 cm; base somewhat twisted. Inflorescences 1-flowered, from the nodes of the rhizome, very short; peduncle pale green, 0.1-0.15cm long; covered with a few small, tubular, narrow, membranous sheaths. Floral bract at the base tubular, to the top patent and concave, acute, membranous, as long as or somewhat longer than the ovary. Flower very small, 0.45 by 0.33 cm; sepals divergent. Median sepal triangular or narrowly triangular, subulate-acuminate, concave, 0.4-0.45 by 0.2-0. 1 3 cm. Lateral sepals with the column-foot forming a short, obtuse-angled mentum, obliquely narrowly triangular, slightly falcate, subulate-acuminate and slightly thickened, acute, concave, 0.43-0.47 by 0.18-0.2 cm. Petals very small, parallel, obliquely oblong, obtuse, convex, 0.13 by 0.06 cm. Lip mobile, curved, ovate-triangular, subacute or subobtuse, somewhat fleshy, 0.17 by 0.13-0.15 cm; basal part bicallose, with erect margins, concave; top convex. Column short, slightly curved, 0.06-0.08 cm long; clinandrium concave, filament minute; stelidia short. Anther cucullate, acute triangular-rostrate, lateral margins recurved, 0.03 cm wide. Pollinia laterally compressed. Rostellum porrect, apex curved upwards, truncate.; stigma large, obovate, concave, decurrent on the column-foot, the lower margin on the column-foot subcallose-thickened; column-foot making an obtuse angle with the ovary, its apex for a short part free, narrowed and slightly incurved, 0.13-0.15 cm long. Ovary 6-grooved, 0.1-0.13 cm long. (After Smith, 1916)

Colours: Rhizome sheaths opaque, brown. Pseudobulbs green. Leaf opaque-green. Sepals pale yellowish, apex pale reddish. Petals semitransparent, white, apex sometimes slightly reddish. Lip deep red. Column white. Anther white or yellowish. Pollinia yellow. Column-foot yellowish. Ovary pale turning green.

Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest; 250-850 m.

Flowering time in the wild: September.

Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map 96-641M.jpg.

Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.