Bulbophyllum

Bulbophyllum Thouars 1822, is the largest genus in the orchid family Orchidaceae. With 1805 species, it is also one of the largest genera in the entire plant kingdom, exceeded only by Senecio and Euphorbia.

Bulbophyllum numbers at least 1,100 species ! The phrase '' at least '' suggests that the tottal number of Bulbophyllum orchids has not been exactly determined-as new species are still continuosly discovered in the wild. And besides,even within the genus itself, there is a lot of confusion: owing to the great variation and heterogeneity of shapes ,there is no precise list of distinctive features available. A common denominator of all Bulbophyllum orchids are their smallish round-shaped to egg-shaped flat pseudobulbs, with 1-2 leathery leaves at the ends(hence the Latin name of the genus ). The pseudoblubs grow at greater distances from each other ,from a firm trailing shoot,and create clustered or umbellifrous inflorescences. The overwhelming majority of flowers are small and ugly ,with a tongue-shaped lip.

The genus used to include many species with miniature flowers arranged in comely umbellate inflorescences, but the vast majority of them were transfered to a some what artificial( and significant in cultivation) genus Cirrhopetallum. Several species of the genus Bulbophyllum have their tiny flowers arranged in two rows in a spiral-shaped arched spike, or on an enlarged flower axix(B. falcatum); others have lips adorned with attractive hair like pendants. To add even more variety, a few Bulbophyllum orchids boast individully growing, rather large and bizarre looking flowers - the best-known and longest-grown of them is the species Bulbophyllum lobbii

Bulbophyllum is mostly cultivated by curiosity-lovers. cultivation is manageable even by an inexperienced orchid grower who owns an indoor ,moderately-lighted glass case. As Bulbophyllum orchids are epiphytic almost without exception, the plants are happier if attached to a bigger piece of bark or branch, even in a greenhouse -for their trailing shoots ''escape'' from a flowerpot every fast. Attach them either to a barren piece of wood or place them in a thin layer of Sphagnum moss. The plants can even tolerate semi -shade and a poorly ventilated station, but in such an environment they bloom less abundantly and assume undesirable dimentions.

The flower form, though diverse, has a basic structural blueprint that serves to identify this genus. This orchids original home is in Papua New Guine. Tthe genus is also widespread in Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and in tropical central and South America.