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Bulbophyllum vaginatum (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Family Name:	Orchidaceae
Synonyms:	Bulbophyllum whiteanum (Rolfe) J.J.Sm.
Common Name:	Magrah Batu

Full Shade

Semi Shade

Little Water

Occasional Misting

Native to Singapore

Suitable for Roadsides

Ornamental Flowers

Epiphyte

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Epiphyte
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition

Autotrophic

Native Distribution	Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Java and Maluku.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Riverine)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Growth Form	It is an epiphytic orchid, with a creeping and freely branching sympodial growth habit .
Roots	Its rhizome bears pseudobulbs, each with one shortly-stalked leaf .
Foliage	Its rhizomes bear pseudobulbs. The leaves are borne as one leaf per pseudobulb which are spaced 3 to 5 cm apart. The pseudobulbs are ovoid and yellow. The shortly-stalked, thick leaves are oblong, 2.5–12 by 1.2–2.5 cm, with a bilobed leaf tip and obtuse leaf lobes.

Stems	The rhizome has a creeping and freely branching growth habit.
Flowers	The flowers are borne on umbels which originate from the base of the pseudobulbs. The flowers sepals and petals are pale yellow. The dorsal sepal is ovate with an acute tip and is ciliate. The lateral sepals are joined together at the base, measuring about 6.5 cm long. The yellow flower lip is oblong, narrowing at the tip and recurved, measuring about 2 mm long. Each flower cluster consists of up to 15 flowers.
Fruit	Its fruits are round or oblong-shaped capsules, that ripen brown or black, splitting open to release the tiny, wind-dispersed seeds.
Habitat	It grows on the branches and trunks of trees in open areas, lowland forests, as well as freshwater swamp forests.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are insect-pollinated.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seeds (in tissue culture), or division of the rhizomes.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: It is reported that the hot juice from the roasted fruits can be used as a cure for ear-ache by dripping it into the ear.

Landscaping	The plants flower simultaneously, thereby a branch bearing several plants will produce a very pretty sight. It can be grown as an ornamental epiphyte of trees in gardens, parks or roadsides.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Form
Landscape Uses	General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Vertical Greenery / Green Wall

Thematic Landscaping

Naturalistic Garden

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Shade
Water Preference	Little Water, Occasional Misting
Propagation Method	Seed, Division

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Oblanceolate)
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Retuse

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden, Cream / Off-White
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Bilateral
Inflorescence Type	Umbel
Flowering Period Remarks	All the flowers open together in an area due to a stimulus caused by temperature change.

Images

Master ID	29339
Species ID	3648
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.