Bulbophyllum encephalodes Summerh.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44393115/44470358

Conservation

LC - least concern

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix and P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:1. 1995

Morphology General Habit

Epiphytic herb with a stout creeping rhizome.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome woody, 2–3.5 mm in diameter.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Pseudobulbs 1.5–8 cm apart on the rhizome, 1-leafed, 1.5–3.5 × 1–1.5 cm, ovoid or ellipsoid, 4-angled, green with brown streaks between the angles.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf erect, fleshy, with petiole to 6 mm long; lamina 3–14.5 × 1.2–3.2 cm, lanceolate or oblong, emar­ginate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 13–43 cm long, many-flowered; peduncle to 32 cm long, rather wiry; rhachis up to 11 cm long, slightly swollen and flattened, distinct­ly nodding so that it forms an angle with the peduncle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers distichous, fleshy, green with purple striations, lip purple-black, or whitish with purple marks.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Ovary and pedicel 1.7–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts scarious, spreading, 3–5 × 2.6–4 mm, triangu­lar, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 4–6 × 2–3 mm long, ovate, not recurved; lateral sepals similar but acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2.2–3 × 0.6–1 mm, oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 2–3 × 1–1.8 mm, very fleshy, with large, irregular warts towards the apex on upper and lower surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 1.5–2 mm long, including triangular stelidia 0.2–0.3 mm long; anther with a retuse protrusion which overtops the front margin; pollinia 4, ellipsoid, the larger pair about twice as long as the smaller.

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

A medium-sized epiphytic herb, with a stout creeping rhizome 2–3.5 mm. diameter.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Pseudobulbs 1-leafed, ellipsoidal or conical-ellipsoidal. 4-angled, 2–2.8 cm. long, 1.1–1.4 cm. diameter, 1.5–8 cm. apart on rhizome.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf fleshy, suberect, elliptic-oblong or narrowly oblong, rounded, very shortly petiolate, 6.8–12.5 × 1.8–3.1 cm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 13–27 cm. long, distantly many-flowered; peduncle terete, wiry, bearing a few closely fitting sheaths; rhachis fleshy, 4–8 cm. long, often at an angle to the peduncle; bracts distichous, ovate, subacute, spreading, 3–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers fleshy, green with maroon margins and lip or entirely maroon.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal ovate, acute, concave, 4–5 mm. long, 2.5–3.3 mm. broad; lateral sepals ovate, acuminate, 4.5–5.3 mm. long, 2.2–3 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals oblong, subacute, 2.5–3 mm. long, 0.6–1 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip very fleshy, subovoid, dorsally 2-ridged in basal half, irregularly verrucose towards apex, 2.4–2.5 mm. long, 1.5–1.75 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column short; stelidia very short, acute; anther ± hemispherical, slightly retuse.

Figures

Fig. 66, p. 308.

Habitat

Epiphytic in montane forest; 800–1500 m.

Distribution

K5 T3 T7 U2