SECTION Alcistachys Schlechter 1924

TYPE: Bulbophyllum occlusum Ridl. 1885

Epiphytes or lithophytes with creeping rhizomes giving rise to close set, distinctly laterally flattened or not, 2 leaved pseudobulbs that blooms on a synanthous, elongate, racemose, many flowered inflorescence with spirally arranged, resupinate flowers, a not thickened rachis that is round in section with floral bracts that are .48" 1.2 cm or longer. Sepals that are free, and glabrous abaxially, petal margins that are entire to distally erose, glabrous to distally papillose, a mobile, undivided, thick lip with margins entire, glabrous or papillose to ciliate. The column is triangular with acute stellida [obtuse in B occlusum] without a tooth along the lower margin. The anther has a rounded to high, conical protrusion that overtops the anterior margin.

There are 6 species within Madagascar, the Mascarenes and the Comoros occuring in lowland to high elevations moist forests.

The flowers smell of rooting meat, feces or decaying fish.

Entries below with an asterix are listed in publications by J J Vermeullen and so are more likely correct than ones without. Species with a question mark in front, seem to me to not conform and so please use with caution. If a sectional name has a "`" in front then it is a complete section with all the known species represented.

1. ?Bulbophyllum bathieanum Schltr. 1916 Madagascar

2. Bulbophyllum hamelinii W.Watson 1893 Madagascar

3. *!Bulbophyllum occlusum Ridl. 1885 Madagascar

4. Bulbophyllum sulfureum Schlechter 1924 Madagascar