Bulbophyllum schistopogon J.J.Verm., Schuit. & de Vogel

Vermeulen, Jaap J., Schuiteman, André & De Vogel, Edward F., 2020, Sixteen new species of Bulbophyllum section Polymeres (Orchidaceae) from New Guinea, Lankesteriana 20 (3), pp. 301-330 : 309-312

Bulbophyllum schistopogon J.J.Verm., Schuit. & de Vogel , sp. nov.

( Fig. 7 )

TYPE: Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province, Ialibu District, Mount Giluwe, southern slopes , 2400 m alt., Apr. 1980 or Jan. 1983, Reeve 1016 (holotype L! 1495886 ; isotypes CANB, E!, K!, LAE!, NSW) .

DIAGNOSIS. Shares the distribution of hairs on the adaxial side of the lip with Bulbophyllum subium (see below), Bulbophyllum galliaheneum Van Royen , and with B. odontopetalum Schltr. , it differs by the much longer, sigmoid stelidia, and the acute (versus longacuminate) sepals. In general shape it is similar to B. dischorense Schltr. and B. dschischungarense Schltr. , it differs by the presence of hairy patches on the adaxial side of the lip.

Rather small epiphyte with creeping rhizomes and spreading roots. Rhizome 1.8–2.5 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 0.1–0.9 cm long, arising from the basal node of the pseudobulb; rhizome scales thin, somewhat persistent. Pseudobulbs distinct, ovoid(- cylindrical), 1.1–2.1 × 0.4–0.7 cm, hardly angular. Leaf: petiole 0.5–1.3 mm long; blade obovate, 3.0–7.0 × 0.5–0.9 cm, ratio length/width 5.0–12.8; obtuse. Inflorescences single or several together, 5–8 cm long, 1-flowered. Peduncle 1.8–3.3 cm long, scales ca. 2, basal. Floral bracts 4.0–7.0 mm long. Flowers: pedicel plus ovary 21–36 mm long, basal node 2.6–4.0 mm above the floral bract attachment. Median sepal free, recurved, ovate(-triangular), 9.0–11.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm, ratio length/width 3.2–3.7; acute, margins entire, glabrous to minutely papillose, surface glabrous; 3-veined. Lateral sepals as the median but (ovate-)triangular, 8.0–12.0 × 2.2–3.5 mm, ratio length/width 3.0–4.6, margins glabrous. Petals porrect, ovate-triangular, 2.6–3.2 × 1.0– 1.9 mm, ratio length/width 1.6–3.0; obtuse, margins entire, minutely papillose, surface glabrous; 1-veined. Lip slightly recurved near base, elliptic, 7.5–9.0 × 1.8–2.2 mm, ratio length/width 3.7–4.5 (without spreading); rounded to obtuse, margins entire, densely hirsute proximally, glabrous distally; thick; adaxially concave close to the base, this cavity bordered by two short, converging ridges with a glabrous crest, adaxial surface otherwise approx. flat and with two densely hirsute patches towards the margins in the proximal 2/5–1/2 of its length, slightly convex and glabrous elsewhere; abaxially slightly convex near the base, slightly concave elsewhere, surface glabrous. Column including stelidia 1.6–2.3 mm long, stigma approx. circular, proximally distinctly protruding from the column face, foot distally widened, with spreading, obtuse lateral teeth. Stelidia sigmoid, narrowly triangular, distally subulate, 0.8–1.3 mm long, acute. Pollinia 4, the inner more than half as long as the outer.

COLOURS: sepals purple with darker veins. Petals and lip dark purple, hairy patches white.

ETYMOLOGY: schistos (Greek) = split, pogon (Greek) = beard, referring to the ‘sideburns’ along the proximal part of the lip.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: epiphyte, no further details. Elevation 2400 m.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Bulbophyllum schistopogon J.J.Verm., Schuit. & de Vogel. a. Habit. b. Flower. c. Flower analysis, from left to right: median sepal, petal, lateral sepal, lip.d. Lip, left: adaxial side, right: abaxial side.e. Column and lip, lateral view. f. Column, lateral view. g. Column, frontal view;. h. Anther, above: adaxial side, below: abaxial side. i. Pollinia, left: two pairs, right: one pair. Drawn from Reeve 1016 by © J.J. Vermeulen, from herbarium material.