Bulbophyllum affine

Bulbophyllum affine Wall. ex Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 48 (1830). (syn: Bulbophyllum kusukusense Hayata; Phyllorchis affinis (Lindl.) Kuntze; Phyllorkis affinis (Wall. ex Lindl.) Kuntze; Sarcopodium affine (Wall. ex Lindl.) Lindl. & Paxton);

Common name: Single Flowered Bulbophyllum, Similar Bulbophyllum

Distribution: West Central Himalaya to Nansei-shoto (Amami-Oshima) (as per WCSP)

Epiphyte. Psuedo-bulbs cylindric with thickened base, 3 to 5cm long, attached to the rhizome 2 to 3 cm apart. Rhizome long and densely rooting. Leave single, narrowly oblong, obtuse, the base narrowed, 7 to 12 cm long and 2 to 4 cm in breadth. Scape short and bracteate, producing a single flower from either the sides of the base of the pseudo-bulbs or from the rhizome between the pseudo-bulbs. Flowers pale yellow to green base with purple nerves, lip with purple margins. Sepals sub-equal, lanceolate, sub-acute, five nerved, lateral pair falcate. Petals lanceolate, shorter than the sepals, three nerved. Lip shorter than the petals, lanceolate, thickened and concave at the base.

Flowering Season: March, April and May

Tropical as well as sub-tropical forests, at an altitude between 450 to 4000 ft.

(Attributions- Naresh Swami from India Biodiversity Portal)