The genus
bulbophyllum is the largest in the
Orchidaceae and is one of the largest in the entire plant kingdom only exceeded by
Senecio and
Euphorbia in the total number of species it contains. It covers an incredible range of vegetive form, from tall plants with cane like stems, root climbers that wind or creep their way up tree trunks, pendulous
epiphytes and quite a number that have developed succulent foliage to a greater or lesser degree. One species has almost become leafless and uses it's
pseudobulb's as the organs of
photosynthesis. The centre of diversity is in
Papua New Guinea and seems to be the
evolutionary homeland though the genus is widespread occouring in
Australia,
Southeast Asia,
Africa and in tropical central and
South America. The flower form though diverse has a basic structural blueprint that serves to identify this fascinating genus.
The following species are of note for their extremes of vegetive and floral form:
Below is an example of one species in the genus and it's classification:
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Liliopsida
- SubClass: Liliidae
- Order: Orchidales
- SubOrder:
- Family: Orchidaceae
- SubFamily: Epidendroideae
- Tribe: Dendrobieae
- SubTribe: Bulbophyllinae
- Genus: Bulbophyllum
- Species: beccarii