| Orange Jones/sandbox/medusa | |
|---|---|
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| Bulbophyllum medusae growing on Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Subtribe: | Dendrobiinae |
| Genus: | Bulbophyllum |
| Section: | Bulbophyllumsect. Desmosanthes |
| Species: | B. medusae |
| Binomial name | |
| Bulbophyllum medusae (Lindl.) Rchb.f. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Bulbophyllum medusae is an epiphytic orchid native to lowland and hill forests ofThailand,Peninsular Malaysia,Sumatra, andBorneo.[1][2] It is distinguished by its rounded inflorescences bearing many small flowers with long, filamentous lateral sepals that radiate outward in loose strands.[3][4]
The species was first described asCirrhopetalum medusae byJohn Lindley in 1842,[5] and transferred toBulbophyllum byHeinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1861.[1] Databases maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew treatBulbophyllum medusae as an accepted name in sect.Desmosanthes and list no infraspecific taxa.[1][6]
B. medusae is recorded from Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.[1][2] Herbarium and field records place it in lowland and hill forests, where it grows as an epiphyte on living trees in humid, shaded conditions.[3][4]
_Rchb.f.%2c_W.G.Walpers%2c_Ann._Bot._Syst._6_262_(1861)_(31308702537).jpg)
Plants are most often recorded on mid-trunk or primary branches where bark remains moist but well-drained.[4]
Bulbophyllum medusae forms a creeping mat of small, roundedpseudobulbs spaced along a slender rhizome. Each pseudobulb carries a single leathery leaf up to about 20 cm long.[3]
The inflorescence arises from the base of the pseudobulb and develops into a rounded umbel of many short-stalked flowers.[4] The lateral sepals are fused at the base before dividing into long, filamentous segments that hang freely around the floral head.[4] The dorsal sepal and petals are smaller, and the labellum is short, mobile, and hinged at the base, a characteristic of the genus.[3]
Cultivated plants show variable scent, ranging from faint earthy notes to no detectable fragrance.[7]
Bulbophyllum medusae grows on bark surfaces where humidity is high and water drains rapidly.[3] Its creeping rhizome allows it to spread laterally into small patches of suitable microhabitat.
Species placed in sect.Desmosanthes are frequently associated with pollination by small flies (Diptera).[8] AlthoughB. medusae has not been studied directly, its floral structure is consistent with taxa placed in this group.[9]
Bulbophyllum medusae is grown as an intermediate- to warm-growing epiphyte.[10] It prefers bright, filtered light, high humidity, and good air circulation. The long sepals are sensitive to prolonged wetting, so airflow is important to reduce fungal problems.[7]
In cultivation the species typically produces a single inflorescence per pseudobulb during active growth.[10]
Media related toBulbophyllum medusae at Wikimedia Commons