Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Epiphyte |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Singapore and Peninsula Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Freshwater Swamp Forest, Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Epiphytic shrub that has been observed to likely begin its life in a terrestrial habit. |
|---|---|
| Roots | Rhizomes long and thin, covered closely with leaf sheaths of about 4 mm thick. |
| Foliage | Leaves glossy dark green, narrowly linear, about 30 cm long and 4 cm wide, the underside suffused with a degree of purple. Youngest, yet to be fully opened leaf completely purple. |
| Stems | Pseudobulb (= a bulbous thickening on the stems of many epiphytic orchids) about 5 cm long and 6 mm wide, slightly flattened, distance between pseudobulbs about 10 cm. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence stalk leafless, about 1.5 cm long, covered with long sheaths. Flowers small, numerous on the inflorescence, the flower-bearing portion about 4 cm long. Flower pale purplish-green in colour with dark purple spots, not open completely. Flower stalk and ovary 5 mm long. Lateral sepals 1.4 cm long, their lower edge continuing almost in the line of the mentum (= a projection formed by the extension of the base of the column in some orchids), with the area towards the apex strongly keeled and acute. Petals 7 mm long by 3 mm wide, with a pointed apex. Lip is 6 mm long, 4 mm wide at the base, curved strongly with a pointed tip, its upper surface deeply grooved throughout, almost to the tip. Flowers from a living nursery specimen have been observed to emit a very unpleasant smell, somewhat like rotting fish. |
| Associated Fauna | Small flies have been observed flying around the flowers. |
| Etymology | The genus name, "Bulbophyllum" is derived from Greek, meaning "bulb-leaved", while the specific epithet, "singaporeanum", is derived from "Singapore", where it was first collected. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Occasional Misting |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting (Herbaceous) |
| Propagule Establishment Remarks | Known to be picky and not easy to grow in cultivation. Cuttings may be mounted on fern bark, covered by a layer of sphagnum moss and placed under 50% shade and watered twice a day. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Purple |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Glossy dark green on the top surface, underside suffused with a degree of purple. |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Remarks | Youngest partially opened leaf completely purple. |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, Green |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
References
| References | Yam, T.W., P.K.F. Leong, P.T. Chew, D. Liew and W.K.H. Ng. 2010. The Re-discovery & Conservation of Bulbophyllum singaporeanum. Gardenwise. Vol. 35. Pp. 14-17 |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30688 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4999 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
