2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Bulbophyllum (Latin Bulbophyllum) - the most numerous genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the Orchid family (Latin Orchidaceae). In addition, this genus occupies a leading position among the genera of flowering plants, yielding in the number of species (more than 2000 species) only to the genus Astragalus (more than 2455 species) of the Legumes family. The genus Bulbofillum stands out among its relatives with non-standard leaves. Blossoming flowers of some species may be accompanied by a pleasant aroma, while others emit an odor that is unpleasant to the human sense of smell. Therefore, when planning to shelter one exotic orchid from the numerous genus "Bulbophyllum" in your home, you should ask what species this creation of nature belongs to, so as not to be disappointed in your choice in the future.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Bulbophyllum" is composed of two words. The first is the Latin word "bulbus", which is translated into Russian by the word "flask", and the second word "phyllon" belongs to the Greek language and is translated as "leaf". The two words together describe the appearance of the leaves of plants of the genus, which are born from the top of pseudobulbs, similar in shape to laboratory flasks.
For the first time, we find a description of as many as 17 species of plants of the genus Bulbofillum in a book with a long title, written by the French botanist, Louis Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars (05.11.1758 - 12.05.1831).
The abundance and diversity of plant species of the genus Bulbofillum create significant problems for botanists involved in the systematization and classification of the plant world.
Description
The diversity of the genus results in an incredible range of vegetative forms, from tall plants with reed-like stems to root climbers that climb or creep along the surface of tree trunks, aiming for their tops. Others are pendant epiphytes that grow on other plants and have succulent foliage in which photosynthesis takes place. And one species has almost no leaves, and therefore photosynthesis takes place in its pseudobulbs. There are species that have chosen stony slopes for themselves, that is, they are lithophytes.
Common to them is the presence of rhizome stems, single-nodular bulbs or pseudobulbs, multi-flowered inflorescences and changeable lips.
The sizes of flowers in inflorescences can be very different, from miniature to large.
The aroma emanating from the inflorescences depends on the pollination assistants. If hordes of flies are the pollinators, then the flowers have to exude the smells of carrion, urine and other foul-smelling objects. For example, if species with the names “
Bulbophyllum beccarii" and"
Bulbophyllum fletcherianum ”, Then during the flowering period, the impression is created that a person is not in a room with plants, but at the dump of a herd of dead elephants.
If other insects are pollinators, the inflorescences fill the space with pleasant fruity aromas. As soon as nature contrives to prolong the existence of living species and their diversity on the planet.
Varieties
The many-sided species of the genus "Bulbophyllum" and their countless numbers simply dazzle the eyes. Colorful flowers, taking on unusual fabulous forms, painted by nature itself with a variety of colors, in a bizarre way combined with each other and with the green leaves, make you wonder and admire the Creator of life again and again.
A simple enumeration of plant species, united by botanists into a community called the genus Bulbofillum, will take a lot of time and space on paper. Therefore, we will confine ourselves to demonstrating several species captured in the photographs.
Note:
The main photo shows the view “
Bulbophyllum flabellum-veneris ».
