Bulbophyllum patella J.J.Verm. 1993 SECTION Peltopus Schlechter 1913

Photos by © Eric Hunt

Common Name The Small Pan Bulbophyllum [refers to the lip shape]

Flower Size 1/2 to 1" [1.25 to 2.5 cm]

Found in Papua New Guinea in primary forests at elevations of 1600 to 2500 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphtye or terrestrial amongst grass in clay soils with a creeping, branching rhizome giving rise to clustered, ovoid-conical, not to slightly compressed, ribbed pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, erect to suberect, rigid, leathery, glossy in youth, lighter beneath, elliptic, obtuse, gradually narrowing below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter and fall on a basal, erect, slender, bourne laterally, 2 to 3.6" [5 to 9 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence carrying flowers that close somewhat in the late afternoon to early evening and reopen in the morning and last about 1 week.

Synonyms Peltopus patella (J.J.Verm.) Szlach. & Marg.2001

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Orchid Monographs Vol 7 Vermuellen 1993 drawing fide; A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species Gerritsen and Parsons 2013 photo fide

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