Bulbophyllum kupense
Encyclopedia
Bulbophyllum kupense is a species of plant
in the Orchidaceae
family. It is endemic to Cameroon
, where its natural habitat
is subtropical or tropical moist montane
s; and where it is threatened by habitat loss. It was botanically described in 2004.
The knowledge of the existence of B. kupense is learned only by a singular epiphyte
on one small, cultivated mango tree (Mangifera indica
), in a private garden in Nyasoso (at elev. 830 m), Mount Kupe. It is the only one ever recorded, and it is still living. However, it is highly probable that this is not the only example of this species, which likely occurs somewhere in the forests on and around Mount Kupe.
The collector of this plant (only a small portion of the plant was removed), B.J.Pollard, had observed in 2002 that the garden, which surrounds the plant's host (or its phorophyte), has been fenced, affording it better-than-nothing protection.
A plan by the interested parties (Pollard, P.J.Cribb and others) to propagate B. kupense is now underway, using that portion which was originally collected in 2000.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
family. It is endemic to Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, where its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is subtropical or tropical moist montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
s; and where it is threatened by habitat loss. It was botanically described in 2004.
The knowledge of the existence of B. kupense is learned only by a singular epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
on one small, cultivated mango tree (Mangifera indica
Mangifera indica
Mangifera indica is a species of mango in the Anacardiaceae family. It is found in the wild in India and cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm regions of the world...
), in a private garden in Nyasoso (at elev. 830 m), Mount Kupe. It is the only one ever recorded, and it is still living. However, it is highly probable that this is not the only example of this species, which likely occurs somewhere in the forests on and around Mount Kupe.
The collector of this plant (only a small portion of the plant was removed), B.J.Pollard, had observed in 2002 that the garden, which surrounds the plant's host (or its phorophyte), has been fenced, affording it better-than-nothing protection.
A plan by the interested parties (Pollard, P.J.Cribb and others) to propagate B. kupense is now underway, using that portion which was originally collected in 2000.