Vol. 77, No. 4: 313-316, 2008
ACTA SOCIETATIS BOTANICORUM POLONIAE
313
DIPHYES BLUME, A FORGOTTEN GENUS
OF THE SUBTRIBE BULBOPHYLLINAE (ORCHIDACEAE, EPIDENDROIDEAE)
DARIUSZ L. SZLACHETKO*, PIOTR RUTKOWSKI
Departemnt of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Gdansk University
Al. Legionów 9, 80-441 Gdañsk, Poland
* e-mail: biodarek@univ.gda.pl
(Received: March 20, 2007. Accepted: October 4, 2007)
ABSTRACT
The genus Diphyes Blume is reinstated. 62 new combinations on the species level are validated.
KEY WORDS: Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Bulbophyllinae, Bulbophyllum, Diphyes, paleotropics.
Carl Ludwig von Blume (1796-1862) was one of the
most prolific botanist of his time. He described many new
genera and species mostly from SE Asia. After years of
oblivion his taxa are reapproved. Such genera as Echioglossum, Crepidium or Osyricera to mention a few, are assigned to Blume. The genus Diphyes was described by
Blume in 1825 in his fundamental work about orchids of
the former Dutch East Indies. The genus was divided into
8 sections: Monanthes Bl. (with the only species D. tortuosa Bl.), Diptychanthes Bl. (D. mutabilis Bl.), Stachysanthes Bl. (D. flavescens Bl., D. gibbosa Bl., D. odorata Bl.),
Desmosanthes Bl. (D. angustifolia Bl., D. capitata Bl., D.
crocea Bl., D. obtusa Bl., D. sulcata Bl.), Corymbosia Bl.
(D. laxiflora Bl.), Polymeres Bl. (D. mucronata Bl., D. tenuifolia Bl., D. violacea Bl.), Diasperia Bl. (D. cernua Bl.,
D. ciliata Bl., D. pusilla Bl.) and Macrocaulia Bl. (D. gracilis Bl., D. hirsuta Bl., D. inaequalis Bl., D. ovalifolia Bl.,
D. tenella Bl.). As thus can be seen, Blume did not recognize typical section, what was a normal procedure at that
time. Unfortunately, it causes that the lectotypification of
Diphyes is difficult. From among Blumes sections, only
Desmosanthes was transferred to Bulbophyllum, all other
have been ignored or reduced to the synonymy.
Detailed examination of the original description of the
genus and comparing it with species included by Blume to
Diphyes led us to the conclusion that the genus should be
typified by D. tortuosa. It is the only species of Blumes content of Diphyes with sepalia basi leviter cohaerentia . In any other species originally attributed to Diphyes the sepals are free to the base (Table 1).
Diphyes Blume
Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 310, t. 66. 1825; LECTOTYPE (hoc loco designatus): Diphyes tortuosa Bl.
Incl.: Bulbophyllum Thouars sect. Polyblepharon Schltr., Repert.
Sp. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. :P 701 & 794. 1913.
Plants usually small, with pending rhizome. Pseudobulbs
narrowly cylindrical, enveloped basally by sheaths. Leaf
single. Inflorescence single-flowered, much shorter than
the pseudobulbs. Flowers small, non-resupinate. Sepals
much larger than petals. Lateral sepals connate near the base or almost up to apices forming a boat-shaped structure,
inrolled or flat apically. Lip small, oblong-ovate to linear,
more or less ciliate along margins. Column foot nearly as
long as the column part. Stelidia prominent, digitate, longer than anther.
The genus is widely distributed from Bhutan to Australia, with centre of diversification in New Guinea. It comprises over 60 species.
Diphyes appears to be somewhat similar to the genus
Rhytionanthos Garay et al. by having horn-like structure
formed by the fusion of lateral sepals. In Diphyes, however, the horn is open on the upper surface with bi-lobed
apex, whereas in Rhytionanthos it is closed at the bottom
and upper surface and lateral sepals are connate to the
apex. Pelma Finet is another genus resembling Diphyes in
habit and in general flower structure. In Pelma the lip is
concave at the base, and the cavity is partly covered by two
converging teeth whereas in Diphyes is ellipsoid, and almost flat on the upper surface. In all other respects, however, Diphyes seems to occupy rather an isolated position in
the subtribe Bublophyllinae.
The following species belong to the genus:
Diphyes aberrans (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum aberrans Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg. : 177. 1911.
Diphyes adenoblepharon (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum adenoblepharon Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 803. 1913.
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REINSTATEMENT OF GENUS DIPHYES BLUME
TABLE 1. Taxonomic position of Diphyess species according to the various authors.
Taxa described
by Blume (1825)
D. = Diphyes
Current status
(cf. Comber 1990, Seidenfaden 1979,
Seidefaden & Wood 1992, Vermeulen 1991)
B. = Bulbophyllum
Diptychanthes Bl.
D. mutabilis Bl.
=Aphanobulbon Schltr.
=B. mutabile (Bl.) Lindl.
Monanthes Bl.
D. tortuosa Bl.
=Polyblepharon Schltr.
=B. tortuosum (Bl.) Lindl.
Stachysanthes Bl.
D. flavescens Bl.
D. gibbosa Bl.
D. odorata Bl.
=Aphanobulbon Schltr.
=B. flavescens (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. gibbosum (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. odoratum (Bl.) Lindl.
Desmosanthes Bl.
D. angustifolia Bl.
D. capitata Bl.
D. crocea Bl.
D. obtusa Bl.
D. sulcata Bl.
=Desmosanthes (Bl.) J.J.Smith
=B. angustifolium (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. capitatum (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. croceum (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. obtusum (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. sulcatum (Bl.) Lindl.
Corymbosia Bl.
D. laxiflora Bl.
= Desmosanthes (Bl.) J.J.Sm.
= B.laxiflorum (Bl.) Lindl.
Polymeres Bl.
D. mucronata Bl.
D. violacea Bl.
=Micromonanthe or Megaloglossum
=B. mucronatum (Bl.) Lindl. (Micromonanthe
Schltr.)
=B. tenuifolium (Bl.) Lindl. (Micromonanthe Schltr
or Megaglossum Carr)
=B. violaceum (Bl.) Lindl. (Megaglossum Carr)
Diasperia Bl.
D. cernua Bl.
D. ciliata Bl.
D. pusilla Bl.
=Monilibulbus J.J.Smith
=B. cernuum (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. ciliatum (Bl.) Lindl. (Micromonanthe Schltr.)
=B. ovalifolium (Bl.) Lindl.
Macrocaulia Bl.
D. gracilis Bl.
D. hirsuta Bl.
D. inaequalis Bl.
=Monilibulbus J.J.Smith
=B. schefferi (O.Ktze.) Schltr.
=B. ovalifolium (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. inaequale (Bl.) Lindl.
or B. ovalifolium (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. ovalifolium (Bl.) Lindl.
=B. tenellum (Bl.) Lindl.
D. tenuifolia Bl.
D. ovalifolia Bl.
D. tenella Bl.
Diphyes amblyanthum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum amblyanthum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 814. 1913.
Diphyes angusteovatum (Seidenf.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum angusteovatum Seidenf., Dansk
Bot. Ark. !!(3): 41. 1979.
Diphyes arachnoideum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum arachnoideum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 798. 1913.
Diphyes bicaudatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum bicaudatum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 815. 1913.
Szlachetko D.L. et al.
Diphyes bisepalum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum bisepalum Schltr. In: K.Schum.
and Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Sudsee: 196. 1905.
Diphyes blepharicardium (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum blepharicardium Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 812. 1913.
Diphyes blephariglossum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum blephariglossum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 798. 1913.
Diphyes cadetioides (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum cadetioides Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 804. 1913.
Diphyes ciliolatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum ciliolatum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 809. 1913.
Diphyes cryptanthum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum cryptanthum Schltr. in K.Schum.
& Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Sudsee 199. 1905.
Diphyes decumbens (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum decumbens Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 820. 1913.
Diphyes dichaeoides (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum dichaeoides Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg.. Beih. : 802. 1913.
Diphyes dichilus (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum dichilus Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 813. 1913.
Diphyes dryadum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum dryadum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 802. 1913.
Diphyes eciliatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum eciliatum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 814. 1913.
Diphyes elegantius (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum elegantius Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 800. 1913.
Diphyes endotrachys (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum endotrachys Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 808. 1913.
Diphyes finisterrae (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum finisterrae Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 818. 1913.
Diphyes fuscatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum fuscatum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 810. 1913.
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Diphyes glabrum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum glabrum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 822. 1913.
Diphyes nigrilabium (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum nigrilabium Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 800. 1913.
Diphyes heteroblepharon (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum heteroblepharon Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 807. 1913.
Diphyes oblanceolatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum oblanceolatum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 817, 1049. 1913.
Diphyes inauditum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum inauditum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 815. 1913.
Diphyes oligochaete (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum oligochaete Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 819. 1913.
Diphyes incumbens (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum incumbens Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 815. 1913.
Diphyes plumula (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum plumula Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 796. 1913.
Diphyes inversum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum inversum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 806. 1913.
Diphyes polyblepharon (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum polyblepharon Schltr. in
K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Sudsee: 214.
1905.
Diphyes kenejianum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum kenejianum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 800. 1913.
Diphyes lichenoides (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum lichenoides Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 808. 1913.
Diphyes loxophyllum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum loxophyllum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 817. 1913.
Diphyes maboroense (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum maboroense Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 809. 1913.
Diphyes membranaceum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum membranaceum Teijsm. & Binn.,
Ned. Kruidk. Arch. !: 397. 1855.
Diphyes microblepharon (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum microblepharon Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 803. 1913.
Diphyes microdendron (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum microdendron Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 821. 1913.
Diphyes montanum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum montanum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 801. 1913.
Diphyes myrtillus (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum myrtillus Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 821. 1913.
Diphyes navicula (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum navicula Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 819. 1913.
Diphyes ptilotes (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum ptilotes Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 797. 1913.
Diphyes punamense (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum punamense Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 797. 1913.
Diphyes purpurascens (Bail) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum purpurascens Bail, Proc. Roy.
Soc. Queensl. : 88. 1884, non Teijsm. & Binn., Natuurk.
Tijdschr. Ned. Indie ": 308. 1862.
Diphyes quinquelobum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum quinquelobum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 805. 1913.
Diphyes rarum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum rarum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov.
Regni Veg., Beih. : 807. 1913.
Diphyes recurviflorum (J.J.Sm.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum recurviflorum J.J.Sm., Ic. Bogor.:
t. 118B. 1903.
Diphyes renipetalum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum renipetalum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 818. 1913.
Diphyes rhopaloblepharon (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk.,
comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum rhopaloblepharon Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 811. 1913.
Diphyes scopula (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum scopula Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 805. 1913.
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REINSTATEMENT OF GENUS DIPHYES BLUME
Szlachetko D.L. et al.
Diphyes schillerianum (Rchb.f.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum schillerianum Rchb.f. in Otto,
Hamburg. Garten Blumenzeit. $: 423. 1860.
Diphyes unicaudatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum unicaudatum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 816. 1913.
Diphyes serpens (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum serpens Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 804. 1913.
Diphyes vaccinioides (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum vaccinioides Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 820. 1913.
Diphyes serrulatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum serrulatum Schltr. in K. Schum.
& Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Sudsee: 216. 1905.
Diphyes verruculatum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum verruculatum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 811. 1913.
Diphyes stenochilum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum stenochilum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 823. 1913.
Diphyes tenompokense (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum tenompokense J.J.Sm., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. !$: 116. 1934.
Diphyes tentaculiferum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum tentaculiferum Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 782. 1913.
Diphyes tortuosa Blume
Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. !: t. 311. 1825.
Diphyes triandrum (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum triandrum Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 810. 1913.
Diphyes unguilabium (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb.
nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum unguilabium Schltr., Repert.
Spec. Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 812. 1913.
Diphyes xanthotes (Schltr.) Szlach. & Rutk., comb. nov.
Basionym: Bulbophyllum xanthotes Schltr., Repert. Spec.
Nov. Regni Veg., Beih. : 799. 1913.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to Barbara Jahn from the Library of the
Botanical Museum and Botanical Garden in Berlin-Dahlem
for her help in gathering original Blumes work.
LITERATURE CITED
BLUME C. L. 1825. Bijdragen tot de Flora van nederlandsch Indie. Batavia: 310-319.
COMBER J. B. 1990. Orchids of Java. Bentham-Moxon Trust,
Kew: 407 pp.
SEIDEFADEN G. 1979. Orchid Genera in Thailand. VIII. Bulbophyllum Thouars. Dansk Bot. Arkiv 33(3): 1-228.
SEIDEFADEN G., WOOD J. J. 1992. The orchids of Pennisular
Malaysia and Singapore. Olsen and Olsen, Fredensborg: 779
pp.
VERMEULEN J.J. 1991. Bulbophyllum. In: P.J. Cribb (ed.),
Orchids of Borneo. 2: 1-304. Bentham-Moxon Trust, Kew and
Toihaan Publ. Co, Kota Kinabalu.