Bulbophyllum reflexipetalum is similar to B. salweenensis X.H. Jin, B. umbellatum Lindley and B. guttulatum (J. D. Hooker) N. P. Balakrishnan in terms of morphological structure and shape of the flowers. The new species can be distinguished from B. salweenensis by the absence of sheaths on the pseudobulbs and rhizome, scape longer than leaf and petals apex mucronate. It can be distinguished from B. umbellatum with smaller and flattened void or ovoid-conic pseudobulbs, shorter leaf blade, petals apex caudate. In addition, the new species can be distinguished from B. guttulatum with leaf blade oblong and apex emarginated, shorter pedicel and ovary, lip papillae with a single longitudinal ridge.

CHINA. Xizang Autonomous Region: Motuo, subtropical, evergreen broad-leaved forest, 1378 m, 17 Mar 2016, J.-D. Ya, Y.-J. Guo, Q.-R. Zhang 18HT1419 (holotype: KUN!).

Epiphytic herbs. Rhizome creeping and rooting, 3–4 mm in diam. Roots arising from the nodes, 0.5–1.5 mm in diam. Pseudobulbs often 1–2 cm apart on rhizome, flattened ovoid or ovoid-conic, ca. 10–16 × 8–15 mm, with a terminal leaf. Leaf blade oblong, 50–65 × 15–20 mm, leathery, apex obtuse and emarginate, base narrowing into a petiole; petiole 10–20 mm. Scape arising from the base of pseudobulb, 13–20 cm long, longer than leaf; umbellate, often 3–4-flowered; peduncle ca. 1.5 mm in diam, with 3 tubular sheaths; floral bract lanceolate, acuminate, concave, ca. 6.3 × 2.0 mm; peduncle and ovary ca. 10–15 mm long. Flowers greenish yellow, sepals and petals with dark brown spots; lip greenish yellow, adaxially with dark brown spots or patches. Dorsal sepal ovate, concave, apex obtuse, base with 1 dentate on each side, ca. 8.10 × 4.95 mm, 5-veined; lateral sepals falcate-lanceolate, base adnate to column foot, twisted inward near base, ca. 10.30 × 5.26 mm, 5-veined; Petals reflexed, broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 3.23 × 2.52 mm, 1-veined, margin entire, apex mucronate; lip deflexed, triangular-lingulate, ca. 4.02 × 2.94 mm, base subcordate with papillae on the edge, margin revolute, apex obtuse, adaxially with a longitudinal ridge from base to apex, abaxially with a longitudinal groove; column ca. 3.25 mm, with deltoid, rounded wings along lower margins, stelidia deltoid, ca. 1 mm, foot ca. 6.86 mm, apex attached to lip; anther cap subglobose with many longitudinal lamellae when dry. pollinia 4, in 2 pairs, 0.72–0.93 mm, yellow, ovate, waxy, attached to sticky substance. Fl. February–March.

The specific epithet “reflexipetalum” refers to reflexed petals of this new species.

Fan Ban Juan Ban Lan (Chinese pronunciation); 反瓣卷瓣兰 (Chinese name).

Bulbophyllum reflexipetalum is currently known only from the type locality of Motuo, Southeast Xizang, China. It is a predominantly epiphytic species that grows on tree trunks, under broadleaf evergreen forest at the elevation between 1300 m and 1400 m.

During our 2-weeks field survey, only 2 populations were found. As this new species may also grow in the broadleaf evergreen forest of vicinity region, we regard its status as Data Deficient (IUCN 2012).