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Autor: |
Jerzy Dziedzic |
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E-mail: |
jerzy.dziedzic@orchidarium.pl |
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Data: |
czwartek, 8 kwietnia 2004 12:29:06 |
Znalazłem artykuł napisany przez autorytet w tej dziedzinie, Davida P. Banksa. Niestety nie mam czasu przetłumaczyć, a znalazłem tu kilka ciekawych szczegółów. Najistotniejszym z nich (przynajmniej dla mnie) było całkowite wyeliminowanie gatunku Bulbophyllum putidum (Mastigion putidum) przez uznanie go za naturalną hybrydę Bulbophyllum appendiculatum i Bulbophyllum fascinator. Banks jednocześnie przywraca gatunek Bulbophyllum fascinator, który został niedawno uznany za synonim (tu nieistniejącego, bo uznanego za hybrydę) Bulbophyllum putidum.
Autor również uważa za błędne wydzielanie nowych rodzajów Cirrhopetalum i Mastigion, utrzymując je wszystkie w obrębie rodzaju Bulbophyllum.
Pozdrawiam,
Jerzy
Bulbophyllum rothschildianum (O’Brien) J.J. Smith
Plus some notes on related species and their hybrids
Text and photos by David P. Banks
Bulbophyllum rothschildianum is a popular species with orchid enthusiasts on account of its unusual flowers and its adaptability to cultivation over a wide range of climates. It is also a reliable bloomer year after year, producing its umbel of up to eight deep maroon flowers on the inflorescence in autumn. Specimen sized plants in full bloom are impressive sights. The lateral (lower) sepals of the individual flower are fused and there are filaments and appendages on the dorsal (upper) sepal and petals. These “flags” move in the slightest breeze and help attract potential pollinators. The labellum is also highly mobile, and nods with the smallest amount of movement, being attached with a flexible hinge. The flowers, which are up to 150 mm tall, give off a slightly unpleasant musty smell that houseflies find most appealing. Best of all, it is readily available from specialist nurseries at most reasonable prices.
It is thought to be endemic to northern India. Very little is known about the origin of the Type plant, named by O’Brien (as Cirrhopetalum rothschildianum) in the Gardeners Chronicle in 1895, with the locality given as “Hills beyond Darjeeling”. It appears to be quite a rare species in the wild, as most of the plants grown by enthusiasts appear to have been in cultivation for a long time, with no recent introductions of jungle collected plants. There is a school of thought that suggests that our cultivated plants have all been derived from one initial shipment consisting of a few different clones. This would stand to reason, as there is little variation detected in plants in nurseries, botanical institutions and private collections. There is however, a large and darker flowered form that has become a sought after cultivar in the USA and elsewhere. This clone, ‘Red Chimney’, has received a First Class Certificate from the American Orchid Society. A very similar clone is grown in Australia, under the name of ‘Wild Fire’. This has received a Highly Commended Certificate from the Australian Orchid Council and I would not be at all surprised if indeed these were the same cultivar, masquerading under two different names. My piece of ‘Red Chimney’ should flower next year, so I will be able to make a detailed comparison then. Whatever the outcome, they are both highly desirable clones.
For such a distinctive and popular orchid, it is astounding that its true identity is often confused. In fact, Bulbophyllum rothschildianum and some of its related species certainly must have an identity crisis due to the suite of names that are frequently misapplied. The original material for a species named by Reichenbach in 1882 as Cirrhopetalum ornatissimum consists of a single flower, with another lodged at Kew Herbarium, which was later drawn in 1916. Line drawings of these taxa were reproduced in 1973 in Gunnar Seidenfaden’s “Notes on Cirrhopetalum”, being Volume 29 of Dansk Botanisk Arkiv. The main differences separating Bulbophyllum ornatissimum from the Type of Bulbophyllum rothschildianum being the split lateral sepals, and slightly less palae (movable projections) on the petals. Plants in cultivation of Bulbophyllum rothschildianum will readily “split” their lateral sepals if stressed by excessive heat during bud development, very low humidity or if the plants have become dry over an extended period of time. Such plants, will flower “normal” the following year, if the prevailing conditions are more favourable. In any case, a study of these facsimile illustrations, reproduced here, indicates that they appear to refer to the same taxon.
It is unfortunate that the first book purely devoted to bulbophyllums, Emly Siegerist’s Bulbophyllums and Their Allies, published in 2001 further clouds the issue. In it, our two duelling species are treated as two different genera, as Bulbophyllum rothschildianum and Mastigion ornatissimum. There are colour illustrations of both entities. Plate 53 is captioned as an “unusual clone of Bulbophyllum rothschildianum”; most likely this is the clone ‘Red Chimney’ whilst Plate 62 is captioned as Mastigion ornatissimum ‘Lil’ AM/AOS, owned by Lil & Henry Severin of Cupertino, California, USA. They are the same species, never mind the different genera bit! On my first visit to California in 1997, Lil Severin gave me a piece of that plant that was awarded in 1973. It is a typical Bulbophyllum rothschildianum, and indistinguishable from the main clone that I grow.
For the time being, I am referring to members of this genus as Bulbophyllum as the treatment of Cirrhopetalum is just too perplexing and inconsistent. There have been numerous proposals to split off the various Sections into individual genera, such as Cirrhopetalum, Mastigion and Rhytionanthos. This somewhat piecemeal approach has received lukewarm acceptance, as there is still widespread confusion over the natural relationships between what appear to be similar groups of species.
But not all plants grown, illustrated (either in books or featured on websites), imported or awarded as “Bulbophyllum ornatissimum” are referrable to B. rothschildianum. Most plants that are imported from nurseries in Thailand and neighbouring parts of Southeast Asia today as “Bulbophyllum ornatissimum” bloom to be either Bulbophyllum appendiculatum or Bulbophyllum fascinator - both being single flowered species. Peter O’Byrne in his recent (2001) book, A to Z of South East Asian Orchid Species, illustrates both Bulbophyllum appendiculatum and Bulbophyllum fascinator (as B. putidum) side by side, which share the same autumn flowering period. Ironically Bulbophyllum appendiculatum is the correct name for the plant most people have labelled as Bulbophyllum putidum, whilst true Bulbophyllum putidum could possibly be a natural hybrid between Bulbophyllum appendiculatum and Bulbophyllum fascinator. The colour photo (Plate 41) in Hortus Botanicus Leiden (1998) suggests such a combination. Yes, it can be confusing!
At times its been suggested that Bulbophyllum wendlandianum from Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand could be a smaller version of Bulbophyllum rothschildianum. This is categorically dismissed as Bulbophyllum wendlandianum always blooms from semi-developed soft new growths and it has a distinctive late spring to early summer flowering pattern. In fact the inflorescences announce their upcoming floral display not long after the new growths are initiated and start differentiating. Bulbophyllum rothschildianum blooms six months later (or did so six months earlier!), and only off fully mature and hardened growths. The blooms of both species are instantly recognisable. Bulbophyllum longissimum is a distinctive long-flowered species that can sometimes be confused with its hybrid progeny.
The following table provides a snapshot of the recommended names for the five distinct species already mentioned in this article, along with recent synonyms.
Suggested Taxonomy for species Bulbophyllum discussed in this paper.
Correct Name Recent Synonyms
Bulbophyllum rothschildianum Bulbophyllum ornatissimum Cirrhopetalum rothschildianum Mastigion ornatissimum
Bulbophyllum appendiculatum Bulbophyllum putidum Cirrhopetalum appendiculatum Mastigion appendiculatum
Bulbophyllum fascinator Cirrhopetalum fascinator
Bulbophyllum longissimum Cirrhopetalum longissimum
Bulbophyllum wendlandianum Cirrhopetalum collettii Cirrhopetalum wendlandianum
Cultivation
With the exception of the species B. longissimum, which requires a minimum winter temperature of 12ºC (and grows in my heated glasshouse), I grow all of the above-mentioned species and many of the listed hybrids under 70% shadecloth in western Sydney, New South Wales. Here the plants experience brief temperatures at or slightly below the frost level in winter and also take the extreme heat of summer, as long as the plants are shaded, in a humid environment with ample circulating fresh air. They will withstand quite a range of environments, and I have seen healthy plants grown out of doors from temperate to tropical climates.
The plants may be grown in squat plastic pots, terracotta saucers (with ample drainage holes), hanging or slatted baskets in a bark based medium with the addition of perlite, gravel and chopped sphagnum moss. They will also perform well on treefern slabs and plaques, with the roots happily penetrating the fibres. Slabs of cork bark may also be used, but obviously require extra watering and for this reason is best suited for mature, specimen sized plants.
These bulbophyllums like to be watered regularly in the warmer months, tapering this off slightly in the winter. As long as the plants have excellent drainage, it is pretty hard to kill these epiphytes with too much water. Fertilise as you would your other orchids, but only at half strength and only whilst the plants are in active growth.
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