Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis

Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis is the largest of the Bulbophyllums, it is native to Irian Jaya. Mature plants can be very large.  The basal  inflorescences are 7 - 15cm long.  Each produces 6-20 flowers. Individual flowers are 5 - 7cm long.  The sepals are of a cup and lid form.  The lateral sepals are fused and the dorsal sepal cups over them.  The flowers are white or cream heavily spotted dark red-purple.  Some are solid red-purple.  A unique quality and the biggest draw to this unusual plant is that they STINK.  Flowers will last 5-6 weeks or more.  These prefer to be grown warm (perhaps intermediate) with Cattleya or stronger light.