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Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 66 (1934) 205

Type: Stein 432 (not seen by Vermeulen 1993)

Rhizome creeping, 2-9 mm diam.; all rhizome scales slightly shorter to longer than the internodes. Roots in tufts below each pseudobulb. Pseudobulbs ovoid to orbicular, sometimes slightly lenticular, 2-9 cm apart, 1-3.5 by 0.6-1.8 cm, not laterally flattened. Petiole 8-45 mm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 5.5-12 by 1.5-4 cm, index 2-6, tip obtuse to acute. Inflorescence 33-72 cm, 15-55-flowered. Peduncle 24-56 cm, bracts 5-8, the longest 7-12 mm. Rachis erect or arching, 4-16 cm. Floral bracts ovate, 3-8 mm, tip acute. Pedicel and ovary 10-15 mm, with the node 1.5-2.5 mm from the floral bract; ovary glabrous. Flowers few or many open at the time, widely opening. Median sepal ovate to elliptic, 6.5-10 by 3.5-6 mm, index 1.2-2.2, tip obtuse to shortly acuminate or apiculate; rather thin; glabrous. Lateral sepals oblique, 8-14 by 3.5-5.5 mm, index 1.62.6, tip obtuse to acute; otherwise as the median sepal. Petals oblique, approx. elliptic, 2.8-5 by 2-3.8 mm, index 1-1.6, tip obtuse to acute, or apiculate; margins glabrous or finely erose; thin; surface glabrous. Lip curved at the base, general outline approx. elliptic or spathulate, 2.8-5.5 by 1.5-2.5 mm, index 1.3-2.5 (not spread), tip rounded to acute; thick; glabrous; adx. concave near the base, with an inconspicuous to distinct median ridge which either bifurcates or is flanked by a shorter ridge on each side in the back, with 2 more distinct ridges converging and fused in front, in the basal half of the lip, into a median ridge; abx. with an inconspicuous, retuse median ridge. Column from ovary to the tip of the stelidia 1.2--1.8 mm; stigma with 3 distinct teeth at its base, orbicular; column-foot without accessories. Stelidia inconspicuous, triangular, tip obtuse to acute; upper margin erose; with a prominent, forwards pointing, triangular to semi-elliptic, rounded to acute tooth along the lower margin. Anther abx. with an inconspicuous ridge towards its base; front margin somewhat protruding. Pollinia 2. (After Vermeulen, 1993)


Pseudobulbs often suffused with purple. Sepals and petals yellowish green to apple green, suffused with purple or not (in particular in the centre); or entirely purple, sometimes with a yellow midvein. Lip yellow, pink or purple.

Epiphyte in montane forest; 2000-2900 m.

Malesia (New Guinea).

Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea; see map

Distribution of Bulbophyllum olivinum in New Guinea

Cool growing epiphyte.

January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November.

  • Vermeulen, J.J., Orchid Monogr. 7 (1993) 109, fig. 66a-i
  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Subtribe Bulbophyllinae
  • Genus Bulbophyllum
  • Section Macrouris
  • Species Bulbophyllum olivinum

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Bulbophyllum olivinum

Overview picture of Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm.

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., plant habit, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 1376

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., plant habit, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 133

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., inflorescence, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 133

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., flower, oblique frontl view, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 133

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., flower, oblique front view, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 133

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., flower detail, column and lip, oblique lateral view, petal removed, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 133

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., flower, front view, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 1376

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., flower detail, column, front view, lip removed, photo P. Jongejan, collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, cult. P. Jongejan 1376

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm. ssp. olivinum, Orchid Monogr. 7 (1993) 109, fig. 66, J.J. Vermeulen, drawing, plant habit and flower analysis, based on a-d, f-i Jongejan 1376 (L); e Reeve 769 (L)

Bulbophyllum olivinum

Bulbophyllum olivinum J.J.Sm., floral analysis, drawing J.J. Smith, from Stein 432