Bulbophyllum lupulinum
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (4)
Habit
Riverine fringing forest growing lithophytic on large riverside boulder
Ikelenge District
May 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman
Habit
Riverine fringing forest growing lithophytic on large riverside boulder
Ikelenge District
May 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman
Inflorescence
Riverine fringing forest growing lithophytic on large riverside boulder
Ikelenge District
May 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman
Flowers
Riverine fringing forest growing lithophytic on large riverside boulder
Ikelenge District
May 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Bulbophyllum ituriense De Wild. Bulbophyllum urbanianum Kraenzl. Phyllorkis lupulina (Lindl.) Kuntze |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Local |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Epiphytic or lithophytic herb growing from a rhizome c. 2-5 mm thick with ovoid or ellipsoid, somewhat flattened or sharply 4-angled pseudobulbs 3–7.5 × 1–3 cm, set 3–13 cm apart on the rhizome, generally 2-leaved. Leaves up to 25 × 4 cm, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, obtusely emarginate at the apex. Inflorescence up to 30 cm long; peduncle 10–12 cm long, covered with c. 10 scarious sheaths; rhachis erect, slightly flattened, 4-angled in cross section, with tufts of fine dark hairs, many-flowered; bracts large, scarious, imbricate, 9.5–16 × 7–13 mm, triangular, recurved, grey-purple with some fine dark hairs on the outer surface. Flowers distichous, several opening together, not opening widely, yellow-spotted and streaked with dark red or purple. Dorsal sepal 4–5.2 × 1.5–3 mm, triangular, acute, not recurved; lateral sepals free, sometimes slightly recurved, 3.8–5.2 × 1.5–3 mm, triangular; petals 2.5–3.2 × 0.25–0.5 mm, spathulate to linear, slightly falcate. Lip 1.5–2.4 × 0.8–1.7 mm, rectangular, reflexed at the apex, denticulate on the margins. |
| Type location: |
Cameroon |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | Riverine forest |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | From West Africa through central Africa and Ethiopia south to Zambia |
| FZ divisions: | W |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Nw |
| Growth form(s): | Epiphyte, liane. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Thursday 24 July 2025 |
| Literature: |
La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 305 - 306. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 118. Vermeulen, J.J. (1987). A Taxonomic Revision of the Continental African Bulbophyllinae Orchid Monographs Volume 2 E.J. Brill, Leiden-New York-Kopnhavn-Koln Pages 138 - 140. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Bulbophyllum lupulinum:
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Bulbophyllum lupulinumAfrican Plant Database: Bulbophyllum lupulinum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Bulbophyllum lupulinum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Bulbophyllum lupulinum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Bulbophyllum lupulinum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Bulbophyllum lupulinum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Bulbophyllum lupulinum
JSTOR Plant Science: Bulbophyllum lupulinum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Bulbophyllum lupulinum
Plants of the World Online: Bulbophyllum lupulinum
Tropicos: Bulbophyllum lupulinum
Wikipedia: Bulbophyllum lupulinum