Bulbopyllum wallichii, Reichenbach (1861: 259)

Nguyen, Van Canh, Averyanov, Leonid V., Maisak, Tatiana V., Nguyen, Thi Lien Thuong, Nguyen, Van Khuong, Pham, Thi Thanh Dat, Nguyen, Danh Duc, Dang, Van Son, Aromyen, Warapong & Truong, Ba Vuong, 2023, The review of Bulbophyllum section Tripudianthes (Orchidaceae) in the flora of Vietnam with the description of new species, B. viridipallidum, Phytotaxa 598 (1), pp. 59-68 : 61

2. B. wallichii Reichenbach (1861: 259) .

( Fig. 1 ).

Type:— NEPAL. 1832, Wall. Cat. n. 1980 ( K000894326 photo!) .

≡ Cirrhopetalum wallichii Lindley (1839: 72) , non Wallich (1830: 51).

≡ Tripudianthes wallichii (Reichenbach) Szlachetko & Kras (2007: 96) .

≡ Bulbophyllum refractoides Seidenfaden (1970: 342) , nom. superfluum.

Habitat and phenology: —Epiphyte on tall trees in evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Distribution: — Vietnam (Lam Dong Province), Nepal, NE India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos.

Proposed conservation status:—According to currently available data, B. wallichii is found only in one location as a clustering epiphyte on tall tree in primary broad-leaved forest in Lam Dong Province. There is no direct threat to this habitat. Hence the species can be assessed in Vietnam as Vulnerable based on small AOO, VU D2. Meanwhile, there is insufficient data for global distribution area of this specie where its conservation status should be identified as Data Deficient (DD).

Note:— Seidenfaden (1970: 342) considered the collection, Tixier 15 (P00348218) as Bulbophyllum refractoides , which is currently accepted as a synonym of B. wallichii . However, the line drawing of Tixier on the herbarium sheet clearly shows the dorsal sepal with stiff hairs on inner surface and on the margin (not fimbriate as in B. wallichii ). We suspect the identification of this specimen may be incorrect. Meanwhile, additional specimens of the true B. wallichii were recently collected in Vietnam, in Lam Dong Province. These collections are presently confirmed by the voucher specimens (BV 1483, 1484) stored at LE (LE01169312! & LE01169312!) and VNM (VNM00043086!) Herbaria.

At the same time, the specimen from NE India collected by Hooker and Thomson ( P00362039 ) seem different from the type in a longer dorsal sepal with acuminate (not caudate) apex, and may represent separate variety or even species; which require detailed study .

Studied specimens: — VIETNAM, Lam Dong Province, 14 December 2021, Truong Ba Vuong & Nguyen Phi Tam, BV 1483 (photos LE01123508 !, LE01169312 ), BV 1484 ( VNM00043086 !) . INDIA, Sikkim, Donné par M. M . J-D. Hooker et Thomson 1859 s.n. ( P00362039 photo!) . INDIA, Sikkim Himalaya , December 1892, Pantling 24 ( P00362038 photo!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Bulbophyllum wallichii Reichenbach. A. Flowering plant. B. Pseudobulb with leaves. C. Intact inflorescence. D. Portion of inflorescence. E. Floral bract. F. Base of intact flower. G. Median sepal, abaxial and adaxial side. H. Lateral sepals, abaxial and adaxial side. I. Petals, abaxial and adaxial side. J. Lip, view from different sides. K. Pedicel, ovary, column and lip, side view. L. Pedicel, ovary, column and column foot, side view. M. Pedicel, ovary and column view from above. N. Column apex, frontal view. O. Stelidia on the column apex. P. Anther cap, view from above and from below. Q. Pollinaria, view from different sides. All photos by Truong Ba Vuong from BV 1483, photo correction and design by L. Averyanov and T. Maisak