Orchids of New Guinea

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Bulbophyllum gerlandianum

Bulbophyllum gerlandianum Kraenzl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 7 (1886) 437

Type: Naumann s.n. (New Guinea, Segaar Bay)

Synonyms:

Bulbophyllum macranthum Lindl. var. albescens J.J.Sm., Orchid. Ambon (1905) 81
- Type: J.J. Smith (Ambon, Hoetoe Mortetoe) (syn BO; L probable); Karsten, Moluccas, Ambon
Bulbophyllum truncicola Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1913) 743
- Type: Schlechter 17359 (holo B, lost)
Bulbophyllum emiliorum, Ames & Quisumb., Philipp. J. Sci. 44 (1931) 377, pl. 2:1-2; 6; 13
- Type: Quisumbing s.n. (VII-1929, Mindanao, Agusan Prov., Butuan, Barrio Guadalupe) (holo AMES; iso NY)

Rhizome 2.5-8 mm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 1-9 cm long, bract fibres thick, persistent. Pseudobulbs ovoid, 0.9-3 by 0.5-1.2 cm. Petiole 0.9-5 cm. Leaf blade elliptic to obovate, 8-24 by 2.3-8 cm, index (length/width) 2.1-7.3; rounded to obtuse. Flowers at most moderately opening. Median sepal c. somewhat recurved, or porrect with recurved top part, obovate-elliptic to ovate-triangular, Median sepal 12-30 by 6-14 mm, index 1.8-3; acute to acuminate, base rather narrowly attached. Lateral sepals free, porrect but converging and (almost) touching towards the tip, ovate to triangular, 15-33 by 7-14 mm, index 2-4.1; acute, base widely attached; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals somewhat recurved, elliptic to ovate, 14-28 by (4.2-)5-9.5 mm, index 2-4.4(-6.7 ); acute to acuminate, base narrowly attached. Lip recurved c. half-way, triangular with a drawn-out, narrowly linguiform top part, 5-9 by 2.5-6.5 mm, index 1.4-2.6 (all without artificial spreading); obtuse, margins with an acute angle above the base when the lip is observed in lateral view; thick; adaxially slightly concave and with two rather distinct, proximally diverging, rather thin ridges in the basal half, convex towards the tip; abaxially with a retuse ridge nearly up to c. 2/3 of the length of the lip, top part c. convex. Column 3-6 mm long, c. straight in profile, stigma without teeth at the base; column foot without ridges. Stelidia porrect, triangular, 0.8-1.8 mm long, rounded to acute, lower margin without wing. (After Vermeulen, ms.)

Colours:

Sepals and petals (pale) yellow, densely spotted with red, often also suffused with red towards the margins, particularly the lateral sepals near the lower margin and the tip. Lip yellow or green, sometimes tipped purple. Flowers with a strong, sweet or spicy scent.

Habitat:

Epiphyte in lowland forest; 250-1100 m.

Distribution:

Malesia (New Guinea).

Distribution New Guinea:

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum gerlandianum in New Guinea

Cultivation:

Warm growing epiphyte.

Flowering time in the wild:

February, May, June, September, November.

References:

Schlechter, R., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 245, fig. 934, as Bulbophyllum truncicola Schltr.
Howcroft, N.H.S., Orchadian 10 (1992) 360, fig. 1, as Bulbophyllum emiliorum Ames & Quisumb.
O'Byrne, P., Lowland Orchid. Papua New Guinea (1994) 460, fig., pl., as Bulbophyllum emiliorum Ames & Quisumb.

Classification:

Family Orchidaceae
Subfamily Epidendroideae
Tribe Dendrobieae
Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
Genus Bulbophyllum
Section Sestochilos
Species Bulbophyllum gerlandianum