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Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 796

Type: Schlechter 17775 (syn B, lost); 17950 (syn B, lost; K); 19677 (syn B, lost)

Epiphyte, slender. Rhizome very short. Roots filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs ovoid-pyramidal, 4-angular, 0.8-1.5 by 0.5-0.7 cm above the base; 1-leaved. Leaf erect, ligulate, subobtuse or minutely apiculate, glabrous, 3-5.5 by 0.5-1 cm near the middle. Inflorescence 1-flowered, 6-10 cm long, wiry, very slender, with a few small peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cucullate, somewhat shorter than the ovary. Flower not resupinated. Sepals lanceolate-ligulate, acute, 1.6 cm long, with finely minutely ciliate margins. Lateral sepals oblique, tightly connate to near the apex. Petals obliquely broadly elliptic, 0.2 cm long, with an obtuse, incurved apicule; below the apex along the interior margins with short stiff hairs. Lip narrowly linear, obtuse, 1.3 cm long; base shortly 2-auriculate; near the base on either side with a minute, ovate-falcate, obtuse lobule; in the middle slightly narrowed; margins densely long-ciliate except in the basal third. Column very short; stelidia subulate, margins on either side with a minute tooth; column-foot short but distinct, the apex narrowed in the claw of the lip. Ovary sessile, cylindrical, glabrous, hardly 0.3 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1913)


Flowers dark purple.

Epiphyte in lower montane forest; 700-2600 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum plumula in New Guinea

Intermediate growing epiphyte.

May, June, July, August, October.

  • Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 268, fig. 1023
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Monanthes
  • Species Bulbophyllum plumula

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Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., flower, photo P. Jongejan, based on Jongejan 154

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., plant habit, photo P. Jongejan, based on Jongejan 154

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., flower, photo P. Jongejan, based on Jongejan 154

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., lip, photo P. Jongejan, based on Jongejan 154

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., flower detail, photo P. Jongejan, based on Jongejan 154

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., photo John Cara, plant habit, in situ in PNG, from Wabag.

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., photo John Cara, flower. lateral view, in PNG, from Wabag.

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., photo Gary Backhouse, plant habit, in situ, from Papua New Guinea, Mt. Hagen

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula, N. Howcroft, drawing, plant habit and flower details

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., J.J. Vermeulen, sketch, flower analysis, based on Jongejan 156 (L)

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., J.J. Vermeulen, drawing, plant habit and flower analysis, based on Jongejan 156 (L)

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., floral analysis, R. Schlechter in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 268, fig. 1023

Bulbophyllum plumula

Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., herbarium sheet, Schlechter 17950 (syntype specimen K), photo copyright the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew