Bulbophyllum pulchrum (N.E. Br.) J.J. Sm. 1912SECTION Cirrhopetalum Photos courtesy of 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.

Many sources cite this and Cirrhopetalum strangularium as conspecific and lump them all together in B longiflorum/Cirrhopetalum umbellatum which extends the range to Africa. I have kept them apart pending better information.

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 ; AOS Bulletin Vol 52 No 4 1983 photo; Orchids Of India II Biodiversity & Status of Bulbophyllum Thou Augustine & Kumar 2001 as Cirrhopetalum pulchrum; Bulbophyllum and Their Allies Seigerist 2001; Notes on Cirrhopetalum Seidenfadden 1973 drawing ?; Manual Of Orchids Stewart 1995; Orchids of Sumatra Comber 2002; Lindleyana Vol 17 No 1 2002 as Bulbophyllum pulchrum; Orchids of India A Glimpse Misra 2007 as Cirrhopetalum pulchrum

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