Bulbophyllum teinodragma 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 : 315-317

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

( Fig. 10 )

TYPE: Papua New Guinea, Normanby Island , Mt Pabinama, 700 m, 8 May 1956, Brass 25777 (holotype L!; isotype AMES!) .

DIAGNOSIS. Identified within section Polymeres by the distinctly elongated fertile sympodia from which inflorescences develop. In addition, it differs from Bulbophyllum melinanthum Schltr , which is the most similar species, by its obovate (versus ovate), sparsely ciliolate (versus entire to minutely papillose) petals.

Small epiphyte with creeping rhizomes and spreading roots. Rhizome ca. 1.2 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 0.2–0.3 cm long, arising from the basal node of the pseudobulb; rhizome scales thin, little persistent. Pseudobulbs distinct, ovoid, 1.2–1.4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, (?)angular. Leaf: petiole 3–4 mm long; blade elliptic to obovate, 3.0–4.2 × 0.7–0.8 cm, ratio length/width 4.1–5.8; acute. Inflorescences many together on a distinctly elongated, sparsely branched sympodium, 2.3–3.0 cm long, 1-flowered. Peduncle 1.0– 1.5 cm long, scales 1. Floral bracts 1.8–2.3 mm long. Flowers: pedicel plus ovary 10–12 mm long, basal node 0.8–2.0 mm above the floral bract attachment. Median sepal free, recurved, elliptic, 3.4–3.7 × 1.7–1.8 mm, ratio length/width 1.8–2.1; apiculate, margins entire, minutely papillose; glabrous, 3-veined. Lateral sepals as the median, but ovate-triangular, 3.4–4.5 × 1.5–2.0 mm, ratio length/ width 2.0–2.3, acute to apiculate, margins glabrous. Petals porrect, obovate, 1.6–2.0 × 1.0– 1.2 mm, ratio length/width 1.4–1.7; rounded, margins slightly erose, sparsely ciliolate, surface glabrous; 1-veined. Lip slightly curved, ovate, slightly attenuated in the distal half, tapering into a short, oblong apical part, 1.7–2.0 × 0.8–1.1 mm, ratio length/width 1.8–2.3 (without spreading); rounded, margins entire, approx. glabrous; thick; adaxially concave proximally and with two parallel, short, distally somewhat tapering ridges close together near the base, distally slightly convex, adaxial surface glabrous; abaxially with a deep median furrow from base to apex bordered by two distinct, rounded, papillose ridges. Column including stelidia ca. 1.4 mm long, stigma narrowly obovate, foot widened, with patent, obtuse lateral teeth. Stelidia straight, narrowly triangular, subulate distally, ca. 0.7 mm long, acute. Pollinia 4, the inner more than half as long as the outer.

COLOURS: unknown.

ETYMOLOGY: teinos (Greek) = stretched, dragma (Greek) sheaf, referring to the elongated fertile sympodia.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: low epiphyte in rainforest. Elevation 700 m.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Bulbophyllum teinodragma 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. Anther, left: adaxial side, right: abaxial side. h. Pollinia, left: two pairs, right: one pair. Drawn from Brass 25777 by © J.J. Vermeulen, from herbarium material.