Bulbophyllum aristatum (Rchb.f.) Hemsl. 1884 SECTION Bulbophyllaria [Rchb.f] Griseb. 1864

Photo by © Robert Dressler and the Epidendra Website

Common Name The Spiked Bulbophyllum [refers to the aristate petals]

Flower Size .08" [2 mm]

Found in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Venezuela humid forests or open pine forests at elevations of 550 to 1500 meters as miniature to medium sized, warm to cool, pendent growing epiphyte with .8" [2 cm] between each, ovoid, angular pseuduobulb carrying 2 apical, erect, coriaceous, dark brilliant green above, pallid green beneath, linear, obtuse, gradually narrowing below into the sessile base leaves that blooms in the fall and winter on a basal, erect, to 14" [35 cm] overall, the swollen, thick, fleshy, round, dark green, slightly asperous rachis to 3.6" [9 cm] long, peduncle and rachis at right angle, many flowered inflorescence carrying spiraling, sessile flowers.

"Similar to Bulbophyllum pinelianum (A.Rich.) Ormerod 2016 but differs in the aristate petals with ciliolate margins and rugose corrugated capsules." Szlatchetko & Kolanowska 2023

Synonyms *Bolbophyllaria aristata Rchb.f. 1866

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;

Beitr. Orchid.-K. C. Amer.: 60 Rchb.f 1866 as Microstylis aristata;

*Biol. Cent.-Amer., Bot. 3: 213 Hemsl. 1884;

Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 673 Kuntze 1891 as Phllorkis aristata;

The Orchids of Panama L.O. Williams & P Allen 1946 drawing good;

Orchids of Guatemala and Belize Ames & Correll 1952-4 drawing fide;

The Orchidaceae of Central America Lo Williams CEIBA Vol 5 1956;

Flora de Venezuela Volumen XV Cuatra Parte Foldats 1970;

The Orchids of El Salvador Vol 1 Hamer 1974 drawing/photo fide;

Selbyana Vol 10:59 Orchids of Central America Hamer 1988 drawing fide;

Bulbophyllum and Their Allies Siegerist 2001;

Manual De Plantas de Costa Rica Volumen 3 Hammel, Grayum, Herrera and Zamora 2003;

Orchid Flora of the Greater Antilles Ackerman 2014 drawing fide;

Orchid Genera and Species in Guatemala Archila, Szlachchetko, Chiron, Lipinska, Mystkowska and Bertolini 2018;

Materials to the Orchid Flora of Colombia Vol IV:163 Szlatchetko & Kolanowska 2023

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