Bulbophyllum levanae Ames 1915 SECTION Lepidorhiza Schlechter 1911
Photo by © Lourens Grobler
Photo courtesy of Dr Leslie Garay Archives, Photo by Anton Sieder Copyright ©
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Common Name Levan's Bulbophyllum
Flower Size 1 5/8" to 3.2" [4 to 8 cm]
Found only in the Philippines at elevations around 500 meters as a small sized, unifoliate epiphyte with close set, pear-shaped, erect to ascending pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, leathery, oblong, gradually narrowing below into the rigid petiolate base leaf which blooms in the spring on a basal, ascending, 4" [10 cm] long, successively opening, 2 to 3 flowered inflorescence with color variable, stinky flowers, growing best in hot to warm temperatures, partial shade and growing in pots.
B nymphopolitanum is often cited as a synonym of this species and is visually very similar.
This species and the following are all related within the so called B nymphopolitanum complex and are similar in appearance, B nymphopolitanum, B papulosum, B recurvilabre, B trigonosepalum, B basisetum and B mearnsii .
Synonyms Bulbophyllum levanae var. giganteum Quisumb. & C.Schweinf. 1953
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Complete Writings on Philippine Orchids Vol 1 Quisumbing 1981; The Complete Writings on Philippine Orchids Vol 2 Quisumbing 1981 as B levanae var giganteum drawing fide; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984 as B levanae var giganteum; AOS Bulletin Vol 66 No 6 1997 photo; Australian Orchid Review Vol 65 No 6 2000 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 69 No 12 2000 photo fide; Bulbophyllums and Their Allies Seigerist 2001; Flora Malesiana Orchids of the Philippines Vol I Agoo, Shuiteman and de Vogel 2003; Bulbophyllum: the incomplete Guide From A to why? Bill Thoms 2009 photo fide; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 7 2011 photo/drawing fide;
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