Bulbophyllum medusae

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Bulbophyllum medusae
Bulbophyllum medusae, Ko Phangan, Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani, Thailand 1.jpg
Bulbophyllum medusae growing on Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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]
  • Cirrhopetalum medusae Lindl.
  • Phyllorkis medusae (Lindl.) Kuntze

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]

Contents

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]

An 1861 illustration showing floral details of Bulbophyllum medusae. Bulbophyllum medusae (Lindl.) Rchb.f., W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 6 262 (1861) (31308702537).jpg
An 1861 illustration showing floral details of Bulbophyllum medusae.

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bulbophyllum medusae (Lindl.) Rchb.f." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  2. 1 2 "Bulbophyllum medusae". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Seidenfaden, Gunnar (1975). Orchids of Thailand: A Field Guide. Royal Thai Forestry Department.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Vermeulen, Jaap J. (1991). Bulbophyllum of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo).
  5. ↑ Lindley, John (1842). "Cirrhopetalum medusae". Edwards's Botanical Register. 28: 12. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Bulbophyllum: Culture and Care". American Orchid Society. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
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