Bulbophyllum medusae
| Bulbophyllum medusae | |
|---|---|
| Bulbophyllum medusae growing on Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Subtribe: | Dendrobiinae |
| Genus: | Bulbophyllum |
| Section: | Bulbophyllum sect. Desmosanthes |
| Species: | B. medusae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bulbophyllum medusae (Lindl.) Rchb.f.
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Bulbophyllum medusae is an epiphytic orchid native to lowland and hill forests of Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.[1][2] It is distinguished by its rounded inflorescences bearing many small flowers with long, filamentous lateral sepals that radiate outward in loose strands.[3][4]
The species was first described as Cirrhopetalum medusae by John Lindley in 1842,[5] and transferred to Bulbophyllum by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1861.[1]
Distribution and habitat
B. medusae is recorded from Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.[1][2] Herbarium and field records place it in lowland and hill forests, where it grows as an epiphyte on living trees in humid, shaded conditions.[3][4]
Plants are most often recorded on mid-trunk or primary branches where bark remains moist but well-drained.[4]
Description
Bulbophyllum medusae forms a creeping mat of small, rounded pseudobulbs spaced along a slender rhizome. Each pseudobulb carries a single leathery leaf up to about 20 cm long.[3]
The inflorescence arises from the base of the pseudobulb and develops into a rounded umbel of many short-stalked flowers.[4] The lateral sepals are fused at the base before dividing into long, filamentous segments that hang freely around the floral head.[4] The dorsal sepal and petals are smaller, and the labellum is short, mobile, and hinged at the base, a characteristic of the genus.[3]
Cultivated plants show variable scent, ranging from faint earthy notes to no detectable fragrance.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d "Bulbophyllum medusae (Lindl.) Rchb.f." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ a b "Bulbophyllum medusae". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ a b c d Seidenfaden, Gunnar (1975). Orchids of Thailand: A Field Guide. Royal Thai Forestry Department.
- ^ a b c d e Vermeulen, Jaap J. (1991). Bulbophyllum of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo).
- ^ Lindley, John (1842). "Cirrhopetalum medusae". Edwards's Botanical Register. 28: 12. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Bulbophyllum: Culture and Care". American Orchid Society. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
External links
- Media related to Bulbophyllum medusae at Wikimedia Commons