Bulbophyllum scaberulum (Rolfe) Bolus

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Burma Valley, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

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Synonyms:	Bulbophyllum congolanum Schltr.
Common names:
Frequency:	Common epiphyte, often growing in large clusters.
Status:	Native
Description:	Pseudobulbs 3-5 cm apart, growing from a woody rhizome. Very variable in size and shape, usually ovoid or pear-shaped, yellow, 2-leaved. Inflorescence erect, up to 20 cm on a thick, swollen, rhachis. Flowers 16-28, set alternately on either side of the rhachis, mostly deep purple. The woodland form (images 1 and 2) is vegetatively indistinguishable from B. sandersonii but the inflorescence usually carries more flowers (16-28); the dorsal sepal is curved forwards, at least at the base; and the linear petals are spreading and not swollen at the apex. Both rhachis and flowers are generally a deeper, purple. The forest form (images 3 and 4) is more easily recognised by the shorter, more compact pseudobulbs and smaller leaves.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In high rainfall Brachystegia woodland and forest margins.
Altitude range: (metres)	900 - 1600 m
Flowering time:	Oct - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Tropical and South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,E,S
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 5 November 2005
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (1978). Southern African Epiphytic Orchids. Conservation Press, Johannesburg. Pages 86 - 87. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 11. As Bulbophyllum scaberulum scaberulum Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 128. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 27. Fischer, E., Killmann, D., Delepierre, G. & Lebel, J-P. (2010). The Orchids of Rwanda Koblenz Geographical Colloquia Series Biogeographical Monographs 2 Pages 142 - 143. (Includes a picture). Goodier, R. & Phipps, J.B. (1961). A revised checklist of the vascular plants of the Chimanimani Mountains Kirkia 1 Page 54. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 79. Johnson, S., Bytebier, B, & Stärker H. (2015). Orchids of South Africa, a Field Guide Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 85. (Includes a picture). Kimberley, M.J. (2003). A List of Epiphytic Orchids of Zimbabwe Excelsa 20 Page 50. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 303. La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 56 - 58. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 206 - 207. (Includes a picture). Linder, H.P. & Kurzweil, H. (1999). Orchids of Southern Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 90-5410-445-7 Pages 418 - 419. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 94. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 118. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 574 - 575. (Includes a picture). Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Pages 32 - 33. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 132 - 133. Summerhayes, V.S. (1957). African orchids XXIV Kew Bulletin 12(1) Page 117. As Bulbophyllum congolanum Vermeulen, J.J. (1987). A Taxonomic Revision of the Continental African Bulbophyllinae Orchid Monographs Volume 2 E.J. Brill, Leiden-New York-Kopnhavn-Koln Pages 114 - 118. as Bulbophyllum scaberulum var. scaberulum (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 133 - 134. As Bulbophyllum congolanum (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 84.

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Flora of the DRC: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Flora of Malawi: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Flora of Mozambique: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Flora of Rwanda: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Flora of Zambia: Bulbophyllum scaberulum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Bulbophyllum scaberulum
African Plant Database: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Bulbophyllum scaberulum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Bulbophyllum scaberulum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Bulbophyllum scaberulum
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iNaturalist: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Bulbophyllum scaberulum
JSTOR Plant Science: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Plants of the World Online: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Tropicos: Bulbophyllum scaberulum
Wikipedia: Bulbophyllum scaberulum