Bulbophyllum pandanetorum
Encyclopedia
Bulbophyllum pandanetorum is a rare species of epiphytic
plant
in the Orchidaceae
family. It is found in Cameroon
and Gabon
, where its natural habitat
is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
s at elevations roughly between 200 and 950 meters. It is threatened by habitat loss. It was botanically described in 1954.
In September 1925, the first sample of B. pandanetorum were collected, twice, in Gabon. They were both found in the Ngounyé River region; the first specimen was located near Kembélé, and the second, along the River Dévèla. Both were attached to Pandanus
trees, and so the botanist's choice of specific epithet.
Since then, it has never been collected again from anywhere in that country, and in spite of meticulous, if sporadic botanical surveyance in many parts of the south and west of Cameroon, B. pandanetorum had never been among the plants collected in that country either.
In June 1996, however, it was for the first time found outside of Gabon, growing on the submontane slopes of Mt. Kupe, in Cameroon. Here it must be supposed, it undergoes continuing decline due to habitat loss through the encroachment of farms, which are known to be spreading. The Gabonian habitat's course of endangerment to B. pandanetorum, and its level of seriousness are yet to be determined.
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...
plant
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 found in 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...
and Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, 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 lowland forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s at elevations roughly between 200 and 950 meters. It is threatened by habitat loss. It was botanically described in 1954.
In September 1925, the first sample of B. pandanetorum were collected, twice, in Gabon. They were both found in the Ngounyé River region; the first specimen was located near Kembélé, and the second, along the River Dévèla. Both were attached to Pandanus
Pandanus
Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 600 known species. They are numerous palmlike dioecious trees and shrubs native of the Old World tropics and subtropics. They are classified in the order Pandanales, family Pandanaceae.-Overview:...
trees, and so the botanist's choice of specific epithet.
Since then, it has never been collected again from anywhere in that country, and in spite of meticulous, if sporadic botanical surveyance in many parts of the south and west of Cameroon, B. pandanetorum had never been among the plants collected in that country either.
In June 1996, however, it was for the first time found outside of Gabon, growing on the submontane slopes of Mt. Kupe, in Cameroon. Here it must be supposed, it undergoes continuing decline due to habitat loss through the encroachment of farms, which are known to be spreading. The Gabonian habitat's course of endangerment to B. pandanetorum, and its level of seriousness are yet to be determined.