Bulbophyllum

B. bracteatum (Image courtesy of Greg Steenbeeke) B. bracteatum
(Image courtesy of Greg Steenbeeke).

Described in 1822 by Thouars in Orchidees des Iles Australes de l'Afrique, this is a group of mainly epiphytic or epilithic, sympodial plants, probably with 2000 species represented.

The genus is distributed in Throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of all continents, extending in some places well into the temperate zone (as in New Zealand and Australia).

Etymology: The source of the name is Greek bulbos (fat or bulbous) and phyllon (leaf) in reference to the somewhat succulent leaf of many species.

The type species (genotype) is B. nutans Thouars.

Similar and related genera include Cirrhopetalum Lindley (which is often listed in synonymy but has a corymbose inflorescence), Dendrobium Swartz (which has terminal inflorescences, although lateral inflorescences may develop also) and many members of the Bulbophyllinae are similar enough for confusion.

Characteristics: Species in this genus are distinguished by the distinct single-internode pseudobulbs that appear to lie on the rhizome, solitary leaf on the growth, lateral inflorescences (generally racemes although scapes are known) and quite simple flowers, often with a mobile labellum. B. schillerianum (imagery courtesy of Greg Steenbeeke)

B. schillerianum (imagery courtesy of Greg Steenbeeke).

Synonyms: This genus is also known as Adelopetalum Fitzgerald, Anisopetalum J.D. Hooker f., Bulbophyllaria H.G.Reichenbach f., Bolbophyllum Sprengel, Cochlia Blume, Canacorchis Guillaumin, Cirrhopetalum Lindley (here treated as distinct), Didactyle Lindley, Diphyes Blume, Ephippeum Blume, Epicranthes Blume, Epicrianthus Blume, Gersinia Neraud, Hapalochilus (Schlechter) Senghas (treated here as distinct), Henosis J.D. Hooker f., Hippoglossum Breda, Hyalosema Rolfe, Lyraea Lindley, Macrolepis A. Richard, Malachadenia Lindley, Megaclinium Lindley, Odontostyles Breda, Osyricera Blume, Oxysepala Wight, Pelma Finet, Phyllorchis Thouars, Phyllorkis Thouars, Sarcobodium Beer, Sestochilus Breda, Stachyanthus Engler, Taurostalix H.G. Reichenbach f., Tribrachia Lindley, Xiphizusa H.G Reichenbach f. and Zygoglossum Reinwart.

The full taxonomic description of this genus is

  • Dressler (1993) classification: Subfamily Epidendroideae Lindley (Dendrobioid subclade), tribe Dendrobieae Endlicher and subtribe Bulbophyllinae Schlechter.
  • Szlachetko (1995) classification: Family Orchidaceae Jussieu, Subfamily Epidendroideae Lindley, tribe Dendrobieae Endlicher and subtribe Bulbophyllinae Schlechter.
    Intergeneric hybrid genera which include members of this genus as part of the components include X Cirrhophyllum Hort., X Siegeristara Hort. and X Triasphyllum Hort..

    Reference material consulted in developing this page has included (but is not limited to) RHS (various dates), Index Kewensis (1998 CDrom version), Bechtel et al. (1980), Hawkes (1965), Clements (1989), Brummitt & Powell (1992), Dressler (1993b) and Szlachetko (1995).


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