Bulbophyllum medusae [Lindley]Rchb.f 1861 SECTION Desmosanthes [Bl.] J.J. Sm. 1933 Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

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Common Name Medusa's Bulbophyllum [Mythological Gorgon with a head of snakes]

Flower Size 6" Long [15 cm]

Looks like fireworks at the 4th of July. Scented flower, small sized, warm to hot grower from Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Lesser Sunda Islands and Sumatra where it is found in lowland forests at elevations of sealevel to 400 meters on trunks and main branches of trees with pseudobulbs carrying a single, apical leaf blooms in the fall and winter on a to 8" [20 cm] long, erect, bracteate inflorescence arising from a newly forming pseudobulb, with an umbellate, fragrant albeit bad, flowers held just beyond leaf height. This species grows well in baskets or pots with hot temperatures, partial shade, regular water and fertilizer and good air circulation.

Synonyms *Cirrhopetalum medusae Lindley 1842; Phyllorchis medusae [Lindley] O. Ktze. 1891

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Flora of Malaya Vol 1 Holtum 1953; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 7 1958 drawing; The Orchids of Thailand Seidenfaden & Smitinand 1959 drawing, photo fide; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; AOS Bulletin Vol 39 No 9 1970 photo; Notes on Cirrhopetalum Seidenfaden 1973; AOS Bulletin Vol 50 No 9 1981 photo; An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids Pridgeon 1982; Manual of Cultivated Orchids Bechtel, Cribb & Laurent 1982; AOS Bulletin Vol 52 No 4 1983 photo; Die Orchideen Band 3 Sonderabdruck aus Schlechter Brieger, Maatsch and Senghas # 40 Bulbophyllinae 1983 as Cirrhopetalum medusae photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 56 No 12 1987 photo; Orchid Genera in Thailand Vol VIII Bulbophyllum Thou. Seidenfaden 1990; The Orchids of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville Lewis & Cribb 1991; Orchids of Borneo Vol 2 Vermeullen 1991 drawing/photo fide; Orchids of Penninsular Malaysia and Singapore Seidenfadden and Wood 1992 drawing fide; A Checklist of the Orchids of Borneo Wood & Cribb 1994; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; Orchids Australia Vol 10 No 5 1998 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 68 No 5 1999 photo; A to Z of SE Asian Orchids O'Byrne 2000 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 70 No 10 2001 photo; A Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Thailand Vaddhanaphuti 2001 photo fide; Bulbophyllums and Their Allies Seigerist 2001; Botanica's Orchids Laurel Glen 2001; Orchids of Sumatra Comber 2001 photo fide; Orchids of Sarawak Beeman & Wood 2001 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 11 2004 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 75 No 6 2006 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 75 No 7 2006 photo; Wild Orchids of Penninsular Malaysia Ong, O'Byrne, Yong & Saw 2011 photo fide

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