Bulbophyllum sarcochilum J.J.Verm. & P.O'Byrne 2008 SECTION Polymeres Verm & O'Byrne 2008

TYPE Drawing by J J Vermeulen

Common Name The Fleshy Lip Bubophyllum [refers to the lip]

Flower Size .08" [2 mm] wide

Found in Papua New Guinea in lower montane forests at elevations around 1200 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with a creeping rhizomee with rather large, soon disintegrating bracts and giving rise to prostrate towards the base, .6 to .8" [1.5 to 2 cm] between each, ellipsoid to obovoid pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, erect, elliptic, acute, petiolate base leaf that blooms in the fall on a patent peduncle, ca .36" [.9 cm] long, provided with ca 3 bracts, ca .64", [1.6 cm] long overall, single flowered inflorescence with tubular, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying a flower that does not open fully with yellow sepals, with slightly darker veins, translucent yellow petals with a blackish red midvein and top and a bright yellow lip suffused with red near the base.

"Vegetatively, this species looks similar to B. bowkettae F.M. Bail., and, to a lesser extent, B. johnsonii T.E. Hunt, both from Australia. It shares the half-prostrate pseudobulbs on a long-creeping rhizome with both species; it differs in having shorter and wider sepals (index 2 to 3 in both Australian species). Also, the lip is much more fleshy, and only slightly concave near the base." J.J.Verm. & P.O'Byrne 2008

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Gard. Bull. Singapore 60:134 J.J.Verm. & P.O'Byrne 2008 drawing fide;

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