Bulbophyllum stagmatoglossum 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 : 312-315

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

( Fig. 8 )

TYPE: Indonesia, Papua Province, 9 km Northeast of Lake Habbema , 2800 m alt., October 1938, Brass 10538 (holotype AMES!).

DIAGNOSIS. Most similar to Bulbophyllum exilipes Schltr. , differs by the ovate petals (versus broadly ovate and distinctly attenuated half-way their length), the upwards falcate (versus downwards falcate) stelidia, and the papillose (versus glabrous) ridges on the adaxial side of the lip.

Rather small epiphyte with creeping rhizomes and spreading roots. Rhizome 2.0–3.0 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 0.2–0.9 cm long, arising from the basal node of the pseudobulb; rhizome scales thin, little persistent. Pseudobulbs distinct, ovoid, 0.6–2.0 × 0.3–0.6 cm, (?)angular. Leaf: petiole 5–9 mm long; blade elliptic(-oblong) to obovate(-oblong), 2.9–8.0 × 0.4–1.0 cm, ratio length/width 6.4–13.7; obtuse. Inflorescences single or few together, 10–11 cm long, 1-flowered. Peduncle 5.5–6.0 cm long, scales ca. 3. Floral bracts ca. 5 mm long. Flowers: pedicel plus ovary ca. 3.8 cm long, basal node ca. 3 mm above the floral bract attachment. Median sepal free, recurved, ovate, 5.8–9.5 × 2.3–3.2 mm, ratio length/width 2.5–3.0; acute, margins entire, minutely papillose; glabrous, 3-veined. Lateral sepals as the median, but triangular, 5.9–12.5 × 2.4–3.5 mm, ratio length/width 2.4–3.6, margins glabrous. Petals porrect, ovate, 3.0– 4.0 × 1.5–1.8 mm, ratio length/width 2.0–2.3; rounded, margins minutely erose, papillose to ciliolate, surface glabrous; 1-veined. Lip approx. straight, proximally ovate, tapering into a narrow, oblong apical part with a slightly thickened apex, 5.0–6.5 × 1.6–1.7 mm, ratio length/width 3.1–3.9 (without spreading); rounded, margins entire, hirsute proximally, glabrous distally; thick; adaxially concave proximally and with two converging, distinct, rounded, distinctly papillose ridges which grade into the convex distal part at about 2/5–1/2 of the length of the lip, also with two much shorter, converging ridges close to the base, adaxial surface otherwise glabrous; abaxially with a deep median furrow from base to apex, otherwise convex and densely hirsute proximally, slightly concave and glabrous elsewhere. Column including stelidia 1.9–2.0 mm long, stigma narrowly obovate, foot distinctly widened, with patent, obtuse lateral teeth. Stelidia upwards falcate, narrowly triangular, subulate distally, 0.8–0.9 mm long, acute. Pollinia 4.

COLOURS: sepals and petals pale purple with darker specklings. Lip yellow, apex purple.

ETYMOLOGY: stagma (Greek) = drop, glossa (Greek) tongue, referring to the outline of the lip.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: tufted on mossy trees. Elevation 2800—2900 m.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Bulbophyllum stagmatoglossum 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.Anther, above: adaxial side, below:abaxial side.Drawn fromBrass 10538 by © J.J. Vermeulen, from herbarium material.