''Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis'' is a species of
orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...
in the genus ''
Bulbophyllum
''Bulbophyllum'' is a genus of mostly Epiphyte, epiphytic and Lithophyte, lithophytic orchids in the Family (biology), family Orchidaceae. It is the largest genus in the orchid family and one of the List of the largest genera of flowering plants, ...
''.
Description
''Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis'' grows as an epiphyte with clusters of 6-4 cm pseudobulbs each growing a single large pendant, broad, succulent, leaves 120 to 180 cm long and narrow at the base.
Plants bloom on a short scape next to the pseudobulb with 12-20 flowers that are 6 cm long reddish brown and covered in brown hairs. Flowers contain elliptical bracts that are 4 x 7 cm.
Distribution
Plants are found growing in dark moist lowland forest of New Guinea at elevations below 500 meters.
Its flowers' fragrance is that of
rotting meat that attracts
flies
Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwin ...
which pollinate them.
References
External links
*
*
The Bulbophyllum-Checklist
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bulbophyllum Phalaenopsis
phalaenopsis
''Phalaenopsis'' (), also known as moth orchids, is a genus of about seventy species of plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are monopodial epiphytes or lithophytes with long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lastin ...