Bulbophyllum (Thou.)
Type species B. nutans
Habitat: The centre of distribution of this genus is said to be New Guinea with about 600 species. From there, the plants have evolved and spread throughout the world’s equatorial zones: eastwards through the Pacific Islands and westwards through Asia, Africa into the Americas (only about 100 species here). They will not be found in the arctic zones because they need to live in tropical rainforests.
Not all grow in hot lowlands but some can be found at higher altitudes and if you have any Bulbophyllums, please try to find out where they come from.
History: During the 18th century, many newly discovered and interesting plants were sent to Europe, among them were a good number from the French islands off the East Africa coast (Mauritius, Réunion and Madagascar); therefore the French plant scientist Louis-Marie Aubert Du Petit-Thouars, born 1758, decided to go there with his brother, to explore the flora of these islands. He could not go travelling during the French Revolution, but managed in 1792 to find a ship that would take him to these islands in the Indian Ocean.
In 1802 the brothers returned to France where Louis subsequently published several treatises and books (with drawings) about the plants he found there. Contained in some of his writings, were the first descriptions of “Phyllorkis”, which Thouars later re-named “Bulbophyllums”.
This group of plants (at present about 2,000 species of Bulbophyllinae) is related to Dendrobiums, with Epigeneiums standing half way between these two large genera. Together with Bulbophyllum per se, there are a number of plants with other names belonging in this group. You can read all the currently accepted 20 names on p.12 of Emly Siegerist’s excellent book: Bulbophyllums and Their Allies: A Grower's Guide (from Achrocaene over Cirrhopetalum, Sunipia, Trias to Vescisepalum). Now there are even hybrids between several of these species.
It is estimated that there are around 1200 Bulbophyllums alone throughout the equatorial regions. This vast number compares well with the New World group of the Pleurothallidinae. Attempts have been made by taxonomists to divide this huge number into smaller sections, (at the moment 78) and this work is still going on.
By the way – it is always safe to say ‘Bulbophyllum’, even if the plant is a Cirrhopetalum or a Megaclinium or one of the other 20 species.
 Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann 'Bucklebury' FCC/AOS |
Description: In addition to having the regular characteristics of orchid flowers, one group of the Bulbophyllums has a thickened base of the column with sometimes a vestigial column foot to which the lip is rigidly attached. The other group – Schlechter calls them Eubulbophyllum, (the “true” Bulbophyllums), have a definite column foot forming a mentum and the lip is attached loosely, so it wiggles.
Most of the plants in this genus are epiphytic and have creeping rhizomes with pseudobulbs that carry one or two leaves, rarely three. Most of the cultivated species have fleshy, even succulent leaves in different sizes, but they can also be thin leaves, terete leaves etc. The one- or multi-flowered inflorescences always arise from the base of the pseudo-bulb in contrast to the Dendrobiums where the flowers always come from the sides or the top of the plants.
Bulbophyllum flowers come in all shades and hues of the rainbow and can be between 18 cm across (B. echinolabium and B. longissimum for instance) to tiny creations that can only be admired through a magnifying glass. There is, B. alagense from the Philippines, which I call the ‘rosary orchid’ because its pseudo-bulbs look like the beads of a green rosary; its tiny orange eyelash flowers are 3 mm long and smell of cinnamon. B. pygmaeum from N.Z. and B. minutissimum are said to have the smallest flowers of all the orchids. The inflorescences of the Megaclinium group look like tapeworms with little flowers coming from its sides, along the central vein. The Cirrhopetalum flowers grow mostly in umbels, which are characteristicized by coherent lateral sepals and palae on the dorsal and petals - feathery appendages waving in the slightest breeze.
These species are pollinated in nature by a vast array of birds and insects; each species has its own pollinator. A few are infamous for attracting carrion flies, among them is the gigantic B. beccari from Borneo. It winds its rhizome (dia.20 cm) around the trunks of large trees, waving its charming white and rosy flowers for all to see and wafting the odour of rotting flesh far and wide. If and when any adventuresome orchidist, cultivating B. spiesii or B. phalaenopsis is successful in bringing them to bloom, the grower will only reluctantly enter the growing area because of the evil smells these flowers produce – just to be pollinated they say – for human noses: revolting!
Culture: Having already stated that these plants are epiphytes, we will realize that they need good drainage. They do not do well (for any length of time) in pots. I like to have them hanging on plaques of bark or cork; they can be tied to thin branches; the more robust plants like B. dayanum and B. Elizabeth Ann ‘Bucklebury’ FCC/AOS need stout supports. They do well in open baskets and very shallow, saucer-like pots with additional holes in them. A fine to medium loose mix works well. They grow throughout the year with only some species (from the Himalaya regions, Myanmar and Western China as well as some Pacific islands with higher elevations) needing a few weeks of drier rest after the new growths have matured. During active growth, all enjoy regular watering and weak fertilizer, high humidity, medium light and warm temperature: winter absolute minimum: 16–18°F.
Bulbophyllums and their allies do not like to have their roots disturbed – leave them alone unless the mix (if there is any) becomes stale. Then, you must rescue them quickly. I thought that just letting them dry will help but no – they die in soggy, old mixes. Please note: they dislike any strong chemical applications.
Ingrid Schmidt-Ostrander - Canadian Orchid Congress