Key to the Species

• (i) Bulbophyllum tuberculatum Col., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 16, 1884, 336; 22, 1890, 488.

B. exiguum Buch., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 16, 1884, 397 (not of F. v. M.).

Dense masses on the trunks and branches of trees. Stems creeping, bracteate, bearing oblong-orbicular pseudobulbs in the axils of the bracts. Leaves solitary on the pseudobulbs, up to 3 cm. long by 5 mm. broad, oblong acute, coriaceous. Flowers white, 2–4 on long slender peduncles arising from the base of the pseudobulb. Dorsal sepal oblong, acute. Lateral triangular, acute. Petals similar to the lateral sepals, rather smaller. Labellum sensitive, orange, clawed, oblongovate, acute, fleshy and concave, the lamina with 2 small linear calli. Column short, erect, produced at the base, 2–winged above. Anther terminal, operculate, 2–celled. Pollinia 2–4, free.

Distribution. Lord Howe Island, rare. New Zealand: not uncommon formerly throughout the North Island, but rapidly becoming rare. 10, Collingwood, Dall.

Flowers April-May. sea-level-2,000 ft. Smith's illustration (Cheeseman, Illus. N.Z. Flor., 2, 1914, t. 191) can be regarded as the hypotype of the species. It must be noted, however, that the dissections in Smith's plate show the concave undersurface of the labellum and are not a typical view.

• (ii) Bulbophyllum pygmaeum (Smith) Ldl., Gen. et Spec. Orch., 1830, 58.

  • B. ichthyostum Col.. Trans. N.Z. Inst., 26, 1894, 319.

  • Dendrobium pygmaeum Smith, Rees Cyclop., 11, 1802, n. 27.

Similar to but very much smaller than tuberculatum. Peduncles very short, flowers minute, solitary, greenish-white, minutely echinulate. Labellum spreading, incurved at the edges. Column with a prominent basal swelling.