Bulbophyllum tokioi
Encyclopedia
Bulbophyllum tokioi is a species of plant
in the Orchidaceae
family. It is endemic to Taiwan
(has been found in the north and central regions in or near Taipei
, Hsinchu
and Taichung
). It was described in 1935 by Noriaki Fukuyama.
s (0.5 mm diam.), lacking pseudobulb
s. Its fleshy, sessile, glabrous leaves
are minute (5–6 mm long by 3-4.5 mm wide), elliptic or elliptic-orbicular, acute or obtuse, some
having tiny, membranaceous sheaths at base. It has axillary scape
s (1–3 cm long) that are slender and erect, with a few sheaths close by its base. Bract
s are elliptic and acute.
B. tokioi has two palely yellowed flower
s, sometimes having red spots or striations. Its three-nerved, dorsal sepal
s are membranaceous and hairless. One of these (2.5-3.8 mm long by 1–2 mm wide) is oblong, while other lateral ones (2.6–4 mm long by 1.5–2 mm wide) are obliquely triangular and elliptic. Its single-nerved petal
s (1.3-2.4 mm long by 0.6–1 mm wide) are oblong. Its lip is attached to the apex of its thin, un-hornlike column foot (2-2.4 mm long by 1 mm wide) is ovate-triangular and purple-tinged, with a rounded to obtuse apex, and a base decurrent into a long, entire, glabrous, membranaceous, three-nerved claw. The column (0.8–1 mm long), has stubby stylids at its apex, and its foot is 2 mm long. Its triangularly conic anther is white with an area of red, and its two pollinia are ovoid to ellipsoid.
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 Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(has been found in the north and central regions in or near Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Hsinchu
Hsinchu
Hsinchu City is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate.Hsinchu City is administered as a special municipality within Taiwan . The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait...
and Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
). It was described in 1935 by Noriaki Fukuyama.
Identification
B. tokioi has creeping rhizomeRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s (0.5 mm diam.), lacking pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s. Its fleshy, sessile, glabrous leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are minute (5–6 mm long by 3-4.5 mm wide), elliptic or elliptic-orbicular, acute or obtuse, some
having tiny, membranaceous sheaths at base. It has axillary scape
Scape (botany)
In botany, scapes are leafless flowering stems that rise from the ground. Scapes can have a single flower or many flowers, depending on the species....
s (1–3 cm long) that are slender and erect, with a few sheaths close by its base. Bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s are elliptic and acute.
B. tokioi has two palely yellowed flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s, sometimes having red spots or striations. Its three-nerved, dorsal sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s are membranaceous and hairless. One of these (2.5-3.8 mm long by 1–2 mm wide) is oblong, while other lateral ones (2.6–4 mm long by 1.5–2 mm wide) are obliquely triangular and elliptic. Its single-nerved petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s (1.3-2.4 mm long by 0.6–1 mm wide) are oblong. Its lip is attached to the apex of its thin, un-hornlike column foot (2-2.4 mm long by 1 mm wide) is ovate-triangular and purple-tinged, with a rounded to obtuse apex, and a base decurrent into a long, entire, glabrous, membranaceous, three-nerved claw. The column (0.8–1 mm long), has stubby stylids at its apex, and its foot is 2 mm long. Its triangularly conic anther is white with an area of red, and its two pollinia are ovoid to ellipsoid.