Orchid Information - Genus Bulbophyllum section Schistopetalum

Bulbophyllum section Schistopetalum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 700. Type species: Bulbophyllum schistopetalumSchltr.

Synonyms:

Small to medium size epiphytes. Rhizomes short- to long-creeping, often downwards along the substrate; rhizome bracts thin, approx. glabrous to colliculate, caducous with the veins slightly longer persistent. Roots sprouting mainly below the pseudobulbs, spreading, distinctly papillose. Pseudobulbs inconspicuous to conspicuous compared to the size of the plant, 1-leafed, with shoots sprouting from its basal node and free, not fused to the pseudobulb. Leaves persistent, thick, nerves inconspicuous. Inflorescences sprouting at the basal node of the pseudobulb only; single to many-fasciculate, 1-flowered; peduncle shorter than the pseudobulbs to longer than the leaves; peduncle bracts 2—3, near the base of the peduncle, or the upper one slightly below half-way. Flowers per sympodium 1 open at a time; floral bracts tubular; pedicel with the basal node well above the attachment of the floral bract, longer than the ovary (approx. as long as the ovary in Bulbophyllum fissipetalum). Sepals free elliptic to ovate-triangular, subacute to caudate, 0.45—2.3 cm long, glabrous, thin to rather thick; t; 3—7-nerved; the lateral sepals approx. as long as the median sepal. Petals either a seam along the column base, or elliptic to triangular with acute to caudate apex, or margin with 3—9 appendages, margins otherwise entire, glabrous, 0.03—0.3 cm long excluding appendages if present, thin to rather thick, 1—3-veined; surface glabrous; appendages approx. immobile, not differing in texture from the petal itself, triangular or tapering into a thread. Lip mobile on a thin ligament, without auricles near the ligament, undivided, elliptic to triangular, 0.12—1.3 cm long; margins entire, glabrous to ciliate or long-hairy, projecting near the base of the lip, then converging over the adaxial side of the lip, usually until they almost meet, at that level usually clasping two more ridges running parallel to the median ridge, beyond that level spreading again; adaxial surface glabrous, or distally hirsute or long-hairy; abaxial surface glabrous to distally long-hairy. Column with rostellum front receding in between the stelidia; stigma narrow or slit-like, inside with 1 keel on the back wall (only Bulbophyllum barbavagabundum checked), proximally not protruding; column foot tapering towards its top, free part short or long (absent in Bulbophyllum barbavagabundum); without lobes next to the ligament; stelidia 1/2 of the length of the column or longer; distinct, narrowly triangular to subulate, with or without a small deltoid to triangular, rounded to obtuse tooth along the upper margin, with a larger, patent to antrorse, rounded to obtuse wing or tooth along the lower margin; anther with a (low) rounded crest, in front somewhat concave or not, front margin usually drawn out, emarginate; pollinia 2, without appendages.

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