Bulbophyllum squamiplectum 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 : 327

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

( Fig. 17 )

TYPE: Indonesia, Papua Province, Wamena, Lake Habbema , 2800 m alt., Oct. 1938, Brass 10794 (holotype L!).

DIAGNOSIS. Characterized within series C by the glandular-papillose patch along the median line on the adaxial side of the lip. Bulbophyllum radula has a similar general habit but has an adaxially glabrous lip.

Medium-sized epiphyte with patent to pendulous, sparsely branched rhizomes to 30 cm long, over which the roots grow towards its base. Rhizome 1.4–3.0 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 0.4–0.8 cm long, arising from the basal node of the pseudobulb; rhizome scales thin, rather persistent. Pseudobulbs distinct, ellipsoid(-rectangular) to (ob-)ovoid(-rectangular), 0.7–1.5 × 0.4–0.7 cm, 3-angular, deeply concave on the side where the new shoot arises. Leaf: petiole 1.8– 2.5 mm long; blade probably somewhat succulent but dorsoventrally flattened, elliptic to ovate, 16–32 × 6–15 mm, ratio length/width 1.7–4.2; acute. Inflorescences clustered from the basal node of the pseudobulbs, 1–2 cm long, 1-flowered. Peduncle 3–6 mm long, scales 1. Floral bracts ca. 3.8 mm long. Flowers: pedicel plus ovary ca. 3.0 mm long, basal node ca. 1.5 mm above the floral bract attachment. Median sepal free, recurved, ovate, 5.8–8.2 × 1.7–2.2 mm, ratio length/ width 3.2–3.8; acuminate, margins entire; glabrous, 3-veined. Lateral sepals as the median but ovatetriangular, 7.8–8.0 × 1.9–2.4 mm, ratio length/width 3.3–4.2. Petals porrect, elliptic to ovate, 1.6–2.1 × 1.1– 1.3 mm, ratio length/width 1.4–1.7; obtuse to acute, margins entire, ciliate, surface glabrous; 1-veined. Lip slightly recurved, oblong, 1.8–2.0 × 0.9–1.2 mm, ratio length/width 1.6–2.2 (without spreading); truncate, margins entire; very thick; adaxially concave proximally, with two narrow ridges which start near the base, close to the margin, then converge slightly over the adaxial surface up to approx. half-way the length of the lip, distal part of the lip slightly concave, with a wide glandular-papillose patch along the median line, towards the base this patch divides into two, lining the inner surface of the ridges, adaxial surface otherwise glabrous; abaxially convex, only slightly furrowed along the median line, surface glabrous. Column including stelidia 1.0– 1.2 mm long, stigma obovate, foot distally widened, triangular. Stelidia upwards falcate, triangular, ca. 0.6 mm long, acute. Pollinia 4, the inner more than half as long as the outer.

COLOURS: sepals purple, white towards the margins.

ETYMOLOGY: squama (Latin) = a scale, plecta (Latin) a braid, referring to the overlapping pattern of pseudobulbs and leaves.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: sub-pendent epiphyte tufted on branches of a tall tree. Elevation 2800 m.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Bulbophyllum squamiplectum J.J.Verm., Schuit. & de Vogel. a. Habit. b. Flower. c. Flower analysis, from left to right: median sepal, petal, lateral sepal, lip. d. Petal. e. Lip, left: adaxial side, right: abaxial side. f. Column and lip, lateral view. g. Column, frontal view. h. Anther, above: adaxial side, below: abaxial side. i. Pollinia, above: two pairs, below: one pair. Drawn from Brass 10794 by © J.J. Vermeulen, from herbarium material.