Bulbophyllum nummularioides

Family : Orchidaceae

Text © Pietro Puccio

 

English translation by Mario Beltramini

 

The species is native to New Guinea where it grows on the trees of the humid forests up to about 800 m of altitude.

The name of the genus is the combination of the Greek substantives “βολβός” (bolbos) = bulb and “φύλλον” (phyllon) = leaf, with reference to the leaves growing at the apex of the pseudobulbs; the name of the species is the combination of the Latin substantive “nummularius, i” = small coin and of the Greek suffix “-οειδής” (-oeidés), from “εἶδος“ (êidos) = shape, look, with reference to the shape of the pseudobulbs.

The Bulbophyllum nummularioides Schltr. (1913) is an epiphytic species with drooping rhizomes, ramified, up to 40 cm long, thin roots and close pseudobulbs, distichous, ovate, strongly compressed laterally and longitudinally grooved, 3-5 mm long and 2-5 mm broad, provided at the apex of one single leaf, ovate-lanceolate with apiculate apex, 0,8-1,5 cm long and 0,4-0,9 cm broad. Sessile or sub-sessile basal inflorescences bearing one single flower, of 6-8 mm of diameter, with pink sepals and petals and dark pink labellum. Ovate-lanceolate sepals with acuminate apex, 4-4,5 mm long, linear petals with long pointed apex and margins minutely ciliate, 3,5 mm long, lanceolate labellum with acuminate apex, 2,5 mm long.

It reproduces by seed, in vitro, and at amateur level by division, with each section provided of at least 4-5 pseudobulbs. Miniature orchid with characteristic tiny pseudobulbs arranged on the sides of a thin drooping rhizome, rarely present in cultivation. Requires a semi-shaded position, medium-high temperatures, 18-30 °C, with lowest winter values not under the 15 °C, high humidity, 70-85 %, and air always in light movement. Waterings and nebulizations frequent from spring to autumn, slightly more spaced in winter, utilizing rain water, demineralized or by reverse osmosis. Monthly fertilizations from spring to autumn utilizing a specific product for orchids or a hydrosoluble balanced one, with microelements, at 1/4 the dosage advised on the package. Due to the drooping posture it is usually mounted on small logs, pieces of bark, cork or arborescent ferns rafts, with sphagnum at the base to maintain the humidity. Transplants and possible divisions are to be done, when strictly necessary, at the vegetative restart.

The species is reported in the appendix II of the CITES (species whose trade is internationally ruled).

 

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