Bulbophyllum pulchrum (N.E. Br.) J.J. Sm. 1912 SECTION Cirrhopetalum [Lindl.] Rchb.f 1861

Photo by Jay Pfahl

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Common Name The Beautiful Bulbophyllum

Flower Size 1 1/2" [3.75 cm]

Found in Maluku, Sumatra, Ambon, Buru and the Moluccas as a small sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte with ovate, 4 to 5 angled, well spaced pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, gradually tapering to a conduplicate, petiolate base leaf and blooming in the fall on an erect, basal, slender, 10" [25 cm] long, many [to 16] flowered, inflorescence that has 2 small, acuminate bracts evenly spaced apart and linear floral bracts that cover all the ovary with the somewhat fragrant flowers held in an umbel.

Vermuellen states that this species is a synonym of B longiflorum, I have left them separate for now as they are often sold as separate species.

Synonyms Bulbophyllum elegans [Teijsm & Binn] J.J.Sm. 1905; Bulbophyllum insulare J.J.Sm. 1912; Bulbopyllum koordersii [Rolfe] J.J.Sm. 1912; Bulbophyllum strangularium (Rchb.f.) J.J.Sm. 1912; Cirrhopetalum elegans Teijsm. & Binn 1862; Cirrhopetalum koordersii Rolfe 1899; *Cirrhopetalum pulchrum N.E. Br. 1886; Cirrhopetalum strangularium Rchb.f. 1887; Cirrhopetalum zygoglossum Garay, Hamer & Siegrist 1994; Zygoglossum umbellatum Reinw. 1828

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Notes on Cirrhopetalum Seidenfadden 1973 drawing ok; AOS Bulletin Vol 52 No 4 1983 photo ok; Manual Of Orchids Stewart 1995; Orchids Of India II Biodiversity & Status of Bulbophyllum Thou Augustine & Kumar 2001 as Cirrhopetalum pulchrum; Bulbophyllum and Their Allies Seigerist 2001 as Cirrhopetalum pulchrum photo fide;Orchids of Sumatra Comber 2001; The Orchids of Bhutan Pearce & Cribb 2002; Lindleyana Vol 17 No 1 2002 as Bulbophyllum pulchrum; Orchids of India A Glimpse Misra 2007 as Cirrhopetalum pulchrum; Bulbophyllum: the incomplete Guide From A to why? Bill Thoms 2009 as B elatumphoto fide;

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