Bulbophyllum is a genus of mostly epiphytic and lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It is the largest genus in the orchid family and one of the largest genera of flowering plants with more than 2,000 species, exceeded in number only by Astragalus. These orchids are found in diverse habitats throughout most of the warmer parts of the world including Africa, southern Asia, Latin America, the West Indies, and various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Orchids in this genus have thread-like or fibrous roots that creep over the surface of trees or rocks or hang from branches. The stem is divided into a rhizome and a pseudobulb, a feature that distinguished this genus from Dendrobium. There is usually only a single leaf at the top of the pseudobulb and from one to many flowers are arranged along an unbranched flowering stem that arises from the base of the pseudobulb. Several attempts have been made to separate Bulbophyllum into smaller genera, but most have not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
Description
Plants in the genus Bulbophyllum are epiphytic or lithophytic sympodial herbs with thread-like or fibrous roots that creep over the surface on which they grow. The stem consists of a rhizome and a pseudobulb, the latter with one or two usually fleshy or leathery leaves. The flowers are arranged on an unbranched raceme that emerges from the pseudobulb, usually from its base. The dorsal sepal is free from the lateral sepals which themselves may be free or fused to each other. The petals are also free from each other and smaller than the lateral sepals. The labellum is often fleshy, curved and hinged to the base of the column. though the genus is pantropical and widespread, occurring in Australia, Southeast Asia (with over 200 species in Borneo), India, Madagascar (with 135 species, some endemic), Africa and in tropical central and South America.
There are now more than 2,800 records (accepted names and synonyms) for this genus. This large number and the great variety of its forms make the genus a considerable challenge for taxonomists: 120 sections and subgenera have been listed.
The genus name (Bulbophyllum) is derived from the Greek bolbos meaning 'bulb' and phyllon, 'a leaf', referring to the pseudobulbs on top of which the leaf grows. The former species of Drymoda included D. digitata (now B. digitatum), D. gymnopus (now B. gymnopus), D. latisepala (now B. capillipes), D. picta (the type species of Drymoda, now B. drymoda), and D. siamensis (now B. ayuthayense).
Evolution and biogeography
Molecular phylogenetic studies place the origin of the orchid genus Bulbophyllum into the early Miocene. Biogeographic analyses and ancestral area reconstructions identified the Asia-Pacific region as the ancestral area of Bulbophyllum and suggest an early-to-late Miocene scenario of 'out-of-Asia-Pacific' origin and progressive (east-to-west) dispersal-mediated diversification, resulting in three additional radiations in Madagascar, Africa and the Neotropics, respectively.
Sections
In 2019 Bulbophyllum were separated into four clades Neotropics, Africa, Madagascar, and the Asia-Pacific.
Africa Clade
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
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! Image !! Section !! Type species
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| ||Bifarium || Bulbophyllum bifarium
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| ||Carnosisepala ||Bulbophyllum carnosisepalum
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| ||Chaseela ||Bulbophyllum pseudohydra
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| ||Comata || Bulbophyllum comatum
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| ||Denticulata|| Bulbophyllum denticulatum
|-
| ||Genyorchis|| Bulbophyllum apetalum
|-
| || Gilgiana||Bulbophyllum gilgianum
|-
|120px ||Megaclinium || Bulbophyllum falcatum
|-
|120px||Ptiloglossum || Bulbophyllum barbigerum
|-
|120px ||Oreonastes || Bulbophyllum oreonastes
|-
|}
Madagascar Clade
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
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! Image !! Section !! Type species
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|120px ||Alcistachys ||Bulbophyllum occlusum
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| ||Bifalcula||Bulbophyllum implexum
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|120px||Bulbophyllum||Bulbophyllum nutans
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|120px ||Elasmotopus || Bulbophyllum oxycalyx
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| ||Ikongoense ||Bulbophyllum ikongoense
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| ||Inversiflora||Bulbophyllum cardiobulbum
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| ||Kinethrix|| Bulbophyllum mirificum
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| ||Lichenophylax || Bulbophyllum lichenophylax
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|120px ||Lupulina || Bulbophyllum occultum
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| ||Lyperocephalum|| Bulbophyllum lyperocephalum
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| ||Moratii || Bulbophyllum moratii
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| ||Pachychlamys||Bulbophyllum pachypus
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| ||Pantoblepharon||Bulbophyllum pantoblepharon
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|120px ||Ploiarium||Bulbophyllum coriophorum
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| ||Polyradices|| Bulbophyllum petrae
|}
Neotropical Clade
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! Image !! Section !! Type species
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| ||Bulbophyllaria || Bulbophyllum bracteolatum
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|120px ||Didactyle || Bulbophyllum exaltatum
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| ||Furvescentia || Bulbophyllum nagelii
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|120px ||Micranthae || Bulbophyllum micranthum
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| ||Napelli ||Bulbophyllum napellii
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| || Xiphizusa || Bulbophyllum chloropterum
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|}
Asia-Pacific Clade
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! Image !! Section !! Type species
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| ||Acrochaene || Bulbophyllum kingii
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|120px||Adelopetalum || Bulbophyllum bracteatum
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|120px ||Aeschynanthoides || Bulbophyllum dryas
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| ||Altisceptrum || Bulbophyllum elongatum
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|120px||Antennata||Bulbophyllum fuscopurpureum
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| ||Balaenoidea || Bulbophyllum balaeniceps
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|120px ||Beccariana || Bulbophyllum beccarii
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|120px ||Biflorae || Bulbophyllum biflorum
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| ||Biseta || Bulbophyllum bisetum
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| ||Blepharistes||Bulbophyllum blepharistes
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|120px ||Brachyantha || Bulbophyllum umbellatum
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| ||Brachystachyae || Bulbophyllum repens
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| ||Brachypus || Bulbophyllum maxillarioides
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|120px ||Cirrhopetaloides || Bulbophyllum longissimum
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|120px ||Cirrhopetalum || Bulbophyllum longiflorum
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|120px||Codonosiphon|| Bulbophyllum codonanthum
|-
|left|frameless|151x151px
|Codonosiphon
|Bulbophyllum raulersoniae
|-
|120px||Desmosanthes||Bulbophyllum croceum
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| ||Drymoda || Bulbophyllum drymoda
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|120px||Epicranthes|| Bulbophyllum epicranthes
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|120px ||Ephippium || Bulbophyllum lepidum
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|120px ||Eublepharon || Bulbophyllum eublepharon
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| ||Gongorodes||Bulbophyllum digitatum
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| ||Hemisterantha ||Bulbophyllum hemisterranthum
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|120px ||Hirtula || Bulbophyllum hirtulum
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| 120px ||Hoplandra || Bulbophyllum restrepia
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|120px ||Hyalosema || Bulbophyllum grandiflorum
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| || Hymenobractea ||Bulbophyllum infundibuliforme
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|120px ||Intervallatae || Bulbophyllum attenuatum
|-
| ||Imitatores || Bulbophyllum imitator
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|120px||Ione ||Bulbophyllum roseopictum
|-
|120px||Lemniscata||Bulbophyllum lemniscatum
|-
|120px || Leopardinae||Bulbophyllum leopardinum
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| ||Lepanthanthe||Bulbophyllum lepanthiflorum
|-
|120px ||Lepidorhiza || Bulbophyllum amplebracteatum
|-
|120px||Macrocaulia||Bulbophyllum ovalifolium
|-
|120px||Macrouris ||Bulbophyllum macrourum
|-
|120px ||Minutissima ||Bulbophyllum minutissimum
|-
|120px ||Monanthaparva ||Bulbophyllum striatellum
|-
| ||Monanthes || Bulbophyllum tortuosum
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| ||Monomeria ||Bulbophyllum crabro
|-
| ||Monosepalum||Bulbophyllum muricatum
|-
|120px ||Oxysepala||Bulbophyllum clandestinum
|-
| ||Papulipetalum ||Bulbophyllum papulipetalum
|-
| ||Pedilochilus || Bulbophyllum papuanum
|-
| ||Pelma ||Bulbophyllum absconditum
|-
|120px||Peltopus ||Bulbophyllum peltopus
|-
| ||Phreatiopsis ||Bulbophyllum phreatiopse
|-
|120px||Physometra ||Bulbophyllum physometrum
|-
| ||Planibulbus ||Bulbophyllum planibulbe
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| ||Piestobulbon||Bulbophyllum piestobulbon
|-
|120px ||Plumata || Bulbophyllum plumatum
|-
|120px ||Polymeres ||Bulbophyllum tenuifolium
|-
| ||Pseudopelma||Bulbophyllum pseudopelma
|-
|120px ||Racemosae || Bulbophyllum careyanum
|-
| ||Rhinanthera||Bulbophyllum wrayi
|-
| || Saurocephalum ||Bulbophyllum saurocephalum
|-
| || Schistopetalum ||Bulbophyllum schistopetalum
|-
| ||Serpenticaulis||Bulbophyllum wolfei
|-
|120px||Sestochilos||Bulbophyllum lobbii
|-
|120px ||Stachysanthes || Bulbophyllum gibbosum
|-
| ||Tapeinoglossum||Bulbophyllum centrosemiflorum
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|120px ||Trias || Bulbophyllum oblongum
|-
|120px ||Tripudianthes ||Bulbophyllum tripudians
|-
|120px ||Uncifera ||Bulbophyllum ochroleucum
|-
|}
Ecology
Pollination
Many Bulbophyllum species have the typical odor of rotting carcasses, and the flies they attract assist in their reproduction through pollination.
To facilitate pollinarium removal and pollinia deposition, this group of orchids, particularly those that attract Dacini fruit flies, possesses a highly modified dynamic lip mechanism - either hinged or see-saw or spring lip (kept either in a close- or open-position depending on resupinate or non-resupinate flower, respectively). When an attracted fly has aligned itself to the opened lip, further probing, feeding and movement towards the lip base result in the lip to snap close, thereby, forcibly tipping the fly in to the column cavity to initiate pollinarium removal or pollinia deposition.
Use in horticulture
Bulbophyllum (abbreviated Bulb. in the horticultural trade) includes species that have been the focus of orchid collectors for over a century. The plants require high humidity combined with good air movement and most of them are ever-blooming - flowering continuously throughout the year. They grow best at moderate light levels, but do not thrive in deep shade. They are considered moderate-to-difficult to cultivate, and require a controlled growing environment to achieve some degree of success. They are not typically suitable as houseplants, and most will not thrive in a Wardian case unless they receive adequate air movement.
The plants' growth habit produces widely spaced pseudobulbs along cord-like rhizome sections, and most of these plants are best accommodated on plaques. Some species in this genus can get very large, but most are small to medium-sized epiphytes from warm, moist, humid tropical forests. They can grow continuously year round with no apparent dormancy period if they are kept warm, are moderate feeders in cultivation, and must be kept moist all the time. They can tolerate dryness for short periods, but they have fine root systems which require moist conditions all the time.
Some of the smaller species do well in pots with small-diameter bark substrate. The plants produce very fine roots generally, and the roots are easily damaged. The plants react poorly to disturbance of their roots. They are easy to maintain once a good environment is established with high humidity and a fresh, buoyant, lightly circulating atmosphere being critical. Most of these species cannot tolerate cold temperatures or freezing.