Orchid Information - Genus Bulbophyllum section Beccariana

Bulbophyllum sect. Beccariana Pfitz. in Engler & Prantl, Natürl. Pflanzenfam. 2, 6, (1888) 179. Type species: Bulbophyllum beccarii Rchb.f.

Synonyms:

• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Brachyostele Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 699
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Macrobulbon Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 699
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Pahudia Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10 (1911) 93
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Pahudiella Garay, Hamer & Siegerist
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Stictosepalum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 699
• Genus Bulbophyllum Section Striata J.J.Verm. ex N.Pearce, P.J.Cribb & Renz

Medium-sized to very large epiphytes. Roots sprouting along the rhizome, spreading, glabrous, locally hirsute. Rhizomes creeping; rhizome bracts (rather) thin, glabrous, caducous, but veins slightly to distinctly more persistent as fibres. Pseudobulbs inconspicuous to distinct compared to the size of the plant, 1-leafed, with shoots sprouting at its basal node, free (fused to the pseudobulb for up to 2/3 of the length of the latter in Bulbophyllum pachyglossum). Leaves persistent, thin to rather thick, often with numerous thin veins. Inflorescences from the basal node of the pseudobulb or from nodes near the pseudobulb, single, usually a 2—many-flowered, congested or elongated raceme, sometimes 1-flowered with an abortive second flower present. Peduncle as long as the leaves or shorter; peduncle scales 3—10, scattered along the rhizome or with the upper up to c. half-way the peduncle. Rachis if present not or hardly thickened. Flowers usually c. all open simultaneously per inflorescence if the latter is racemose; floral bracts not aplexicaul (amplexicaul but not tubular in species with a 1—3-flowered raceme); pedicel with the basal node level with the attachment of the floral bract or up to 1 x the diameter of the pedicel above it, shorter to distinctly longer than the ovary. Median sepal free; outside glabrous to papillose to densely long-hairy.; 5-nerved. Lateral sepals (partly) adnate along the lower margin, of c. equal length or the laterals 2.2-8 X as long as the median sepal, elliptic to triangular, obtuse(-apiculate) to long acuminate, margins entire, glabrous; rather thin to very thick, 5—19-nerved, outside glabrous to papillose to densely long-hairy. Petals elliptic to (ob-)ovate to triangular, or rhombiform, rounded(-caudate) to acuminate, margins entire, glabrous (ciliate in Bulbophyllum ornatum) rather thin to thick, 3—9-nerved, surface glabrous. Lip mobile on a thin ligament, without auricles, undivided, elliptic to oblong, or ovate to triangular, sometimes constricted c. half-way, margins entire to partly erose, glabrous; outside without ridges or with two inconspicuous to very distinct, entire to erose ridges in c. flexural position, with or without two more short or knob-shaped ridges close to the ligament, adaxial surface glabrous to partly papillose, hirsute, with long hairs, or verrucate to rugose; abaxial surface glabrous. Column with rostellum front (slightly) receding in between the stelidia tips; stigma large, with 3 keels inside (2 on the front wall, 1 on the back wall), at the base not protruding; column foot tapering towards its top or not, without lateral lobes next to the ligament, free part c. absent to very long; stelidia shorter than half the length of the column, deltoid to triangular to elongated (ovate-)oblong, rounded to acute tooth or wing along the lower margin; anther with a low to rather high, obtuse crest, in front not concave, its front margin somewhat drawn out or not; pollinia 4, the inner distinctly more than half as long as the outer, with or without a single stipe.

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