Species Information - Bulbophyllum radula

Bulbophyllum radula J.J.Verm., Schuit. & de Vogel, Lankesteriana 20(3) (2020) 324, fig. 16

Type: Reeve 762 (holo L; iso CANB, E, K, LAE, NSW).

Synonyms:

• Bulbophyllum “subcubium (?)”, Dressler, The Orchids, Pl. 13, fig. 73 (1981) [probably a spelling mistake for B. subcubicum J.J.Sm., an unrelated species].

Medium-size patent to pendulous epiphyte to 30 cm long. Roots attaching the base of the plant to the substratum, growing over the rhizome towards its base. Rhizome sparsely branched, 0.11–0.2 cm diam., sections between pseudobulbs 0.4–0.9 cm long, arising from the basal node of the pseudobulb; rhizome scales thin, rather long persistent. Pseudobulbs distinct, 0.4–0.9 cm apart, ellipsoid to (ob-)ovoid, 0.6–1.1 by 0.3–0.4 cm, hardly angular but deeply concave on the side where the new shoot arises. Leaf: petiole 0.15–0.28 cm long; blade succulent, semi-terete with the upper side flattened, ovate in outline, 1.7–2.2 by 0.35–0.7 cm, index 3.1–4.9; apex acute. Inflorescences clustered, c. 1 cm long, 1-flowered; peduncle c. 0.14 cm long; scales 1; floral bracts c. 0.31 cm long. Flowers: pedicel and ovary c. 0.38 cm long; basal node 0.1–0.15 cm above the floral bract attachment. Median sepal free, recurved, ovate-triangular, 0.48–0.6 by 0.18–0.23 cm, index 2.2–2.8; margins entire, ciliolate; surface glabrous; apex acuminate; 3-nerved. Lateral sepals free, recurved, 0.43–0.56 by 0.23–0.29 cm, index 1.8–2.0. Petals porrect, (ovate-)oblong, 0.25–0.27 by 0.06–0.08 cm, index 3.2–4.2; margins entire, ciliate; apex rounded; surface glabrous; 1-nerved. Lip recurved in the basal half, very thick, obovate, 0.19–0.24 by 0.11–0.16 cm, index 1.5–1.8 (without spreading); margins entire, glabrous; apex rounded; upper side concave near the base with a transverse, rounded callus just above the ligament, with two thin, narrow ridges which start near the base, close to the margin, then converge slightly over the upper surface up to about half-way the length of the lip, where they merge with the distinctly convex top part of the lip, upper surface glabrous; underside with two distinct, rounded, hirsute ridges which are adjacent near the base and at the top, distant and with a deep furrow in between elsewhere. Column including stelidia 0.16–0.21 cm long; column foot at the top with spreading, rounded lateral teeth; stigma narrowly elliptic with slightly protruding base; stelidia downwards falcate, narrowly triangular, subulate at the top, 0.08–0.12 cm long, acute; pollinia 4, the inner two more than half as long as the outer.
(after Vermeulen et al., 2020)

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