Description:

• Epiphytic herbs, with creeping rhizomes; pseudobulbs 3-5-angled
• Leaves 1 or 2 at apex of pseudobulbs, coriaceous or fleshy
• Inflorescences lateral, arising from base of pseudobulbs or rarely from rhizome, flowers racemose or umbellate, rarely solitary, sometimes terminal portion dilated into flattened structure along either side of which flowers and bracts are distichously arranged; flowers often small, fleshy, purple or yellow, often with green or brown tinge; bracts usually ovate or triangular
• Sepals: median one free, erect or spreading; laterals free or adnate, united to column-foot to form ± prominent mentum
• Petals mostly smaller and narrower than median sepal
• Lip often small and fleshy, usually entire and ligulate, often mobile on column-foot, frequently ciliate
• Gynostemium short, sometimes with lateral wings or apical stelidia; anther operculate, incumbent; pollinia 4 in 2 pairs, waxy, normally without appendages
• Capsule ovoid or oblong
• x = 19 (aneuploids)

Nomenclature:

• Bulbophyllum Thouars
  • Thouars: t. 93 (1822) name conserved
  • Schelpe: 22 (1966)
  • Harrison: 33 (1972)
  • Vermeulen: 1 (1987)
  • Stewart et al.: 218 (1982)
  • Linder & Kurzweil: 416 (1999)
• Megaclinium Lindl.
  • Lindley: t. 989 (1826)
  • Rolfe: 9 (1912)
  • Phillips: 242 (1951)
• Cirrhopetalum Lindl.
  • Lindley: t. 832 (1824)
  • Stewart et al.: 220 (1982)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Species ± 1000, throughout tropics and subtropics of the world
• Southern Africa: Species 4, widespread in eastern half from Northern Province to Pondoland (Eastern Cape)