Bulbophyllum

Finding

Update: SITF has received additional data and has now determined this plant to be Bulbophyllum longiflorum (Aug 2026). The key difference in B. longiflorum and B. annamense is in the shape of the petals. B. longiflorum has triangular shaped petals as does this plant and B. annamense has suborbicular/elliptic shaped petals. SITF has determined that this plant is not Bulbophyllum roseopunctatum (Jun 2026). It cannot be B. roseopunctatum, since it clearly has a cirrhopetalum form. Simply following taxonomical changes leads to B. annamense; however, it also appears to be very close to B. longiflorum. Most likely when it was translated from Cirr. roseopunctatum to Bulb. roseopunctatum, a mistake was made in the translation. It is probably either B. longiflorum or B. annamense, but cannot be further clarified without more detailed images. B. annamense is endemic to Vietnam with smaller pseudobulbs and narrower, elliptic leaves. B. longiflorum is very widespread with widely spaced, larger pseudobulbs carrying a large, fleshy leaf. Petals of B. annamense are elliptic to almost circular, with erose and fimbriate (fringed) margins. Petals of B. longiflorum are typically ovate to triangular, lacking the heavily fringed margins seen in B. annamense. Unless the origin of the plant was known and the petal details were shown, either of these could be possible.

Judging Center: Dallas Judging Center

Award Number: 20061707

Award Date: May 13, 2006

Awarded As: AM

Description associated with Bulbophyllum roseopunctatum 'Jim's Pink Lampshades' AM/AOS (20061707) exhibited by Ian Rich at RMJC

Forty-four flowers on three arched umbellate inflorescences and four additional immature inflorescences; flowers closely and evenly spaced to form a closed circle giving the appearance of a coronet; dorsal sepal creamy white spotted dark purple; lateral sepals fused, creamy white tessellated purple; sepals and petals extended into 0.6-cm hair-like appendage; petals purple; lip hinged, purple; column yellow, suffused and spotted purple; substance good; texture matte; lateral sepals of flowers in mature umbels expand and reflex to form coronet shape.

But Bulbophyllum roseopunctatum is in section Papulipetalum a single flower per inflorescence section (Orchids of New Guinea, Orchidspecies.com, and Wikipedia websites). See Bulbophyllum lorentzianum 'Irene' CHM/AOS in OrchidPro as an example of a species in section Papulipetalum (or related) section(s).

I am not sure what the species is but it would be a species in one of the several subumbellate sections, such as Cirrhopetalum.

The picture of the Cirrhopetalum type species, Bulbophyllum longiflorum 'La Jolla', is similar to the AOS picture of 'Jim's Pink Lampshades'.

(NOTE: I am not suggesting it is Bulbophyllum longiflorum, just giving you background as to why I believe this is in error.)

See more Bulbophyllum SITF listings
Learn more about the Bulbophyllum genus