Introducing Bulbophylullum section Stenochilus

The genus reigns supreme in having the most species, with current estimates of more than 2,000 members, being regularly stated. New species are still being described, on a regular basis in this fascinating genus. One would suspect as DNA studies are done on the genus, there will be major changes, with a good number of new genera either being created, or old genera being resurrected. As with any large genus, the members are arranged into sections of similar, or related species. Today’s article is about one of these sections.

section is characterized by having singleflowered inflorescences, with a large bloom that is non-resupinate (meaning that the labellum is uppermost); flowers, in most cases, not opening widely; the sheaths on the rhizome, which soon break down into persistent bristles; and the flowers are usually fragrant and highly attractive to fruit flies; the plants could also be considered to be large. Members of section are often placed within the related section but we believe the members of the two sections are readily separable.

The section was created by Johannes J. Smith in 1914, without him nominating a type species. In 1979, Gunnar Seidenfaden nominated the widespread

as the type species for this section.

In the Philippines, there are at least seven species, with only three being endemic, or not being found in any other country.

also occurs in Borneo, and the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. In the Philippines, it has been recorded from the provinces of Aurora, Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon on Luzon; the Visayan islands of Bohol and Leyte; and the province of Surigao on Mindanao.

is endemic to the Philippines and has been recorded from the island of Samar, in the Visayan Sea, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur on Mindanao. It grows as an epiphyte, usually on the trunks of trees at elevations between 100 and 400 meters above sea level. is a widely distributed species, which has been found on the Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. In the Philippines, it is only known from the east coast of Aurora and Quezon provinces, in Luzon; the island of Panay in the Visayan Sea; and the south-western island of Palawan, where it grows as an epiphyte, at elevations of up to 1,000 meters above sea level. We suspect this plant is more widely distributed in the Philippines, but it is not common.

has been recorded from the west coast of Malaysia, and the islands of Maluku, in Indonesia. In the Philippines, it is only known from Quezon province in Luzon; and the island of Mindoro; and the south-western island of Palawan, where it grows on rocks, and trees, at elevations from sea level to about 550 meters in light shade. We believe that this species is more widely distributed in the Philippines, but is probably confused with

is endemic to the Philippines and has been recorded from the province of Bataan and Laguna in Luzon; the south-western islands of Busuanga and Palawan; the island of Mindoro; and the provinces of Agusan, Davao and Surigao in Mindanao; and the island of Basilan in the Sulu archipelago. It grows as an epiphyte at low elevations. Of the species mentioned here,

and are more frequently found, especially at low elevations. Whereas remains extremely elusive for some unknown reason. is well known within the orchid trade, perhaps because of the widely opening flower.