The genus Cirrhopetalum and the genera of the Bulbophyllum alliance

Abstract

The genus Cirrhopetalum is reinstated among the genera of the Bulbophyllum alliance on the primary characters derived from its type species. Both its distinctness and position are ascertained through re‐examining the primary characters of each of the genera of this alliance and the information thus gleaned is summarized in the form of a dichotomous key. A complete list of all binomials published under Cirrhopetalum is provided. For each binomial either its sectional assignment or its currently valid name under other genera is given. Because of the superficial resemblance of certain Bulbophyllum species to those of Cirrhopetalum, many of which consequently were treated as such, in Appendix A a key to various sections of Bulbophyllum is also presented in which the Cirrhopetalum‐like plants have either pseudoumbellate or capitate inflorescences. Appendix B contains descriptions of new genera and nomenclatorial transfers.

Some taxonomic corrections in the subtribe Bulbophyllinae (Orchidaceae)

“…As far as supraspecific taxa are concerned, the basic principles of Garay et al (1994) are most concisely worded in the following citation (p. 614): "if an organism does not exhibit the characters by which a particular genus or section is circumscribed, that organism does not belong there! ... And that is how good genera are born!".…”

516. Bulbophyllum Echinolabium. Orchidaceae

“…The Dutch botanist Johannes Jacobus Smith decribed B. echinolabium in 1934 from material collected by Hirschmann at Donggala in Sulawesi. A closer relative may be B. sulawesii, described from Palu Island, Sulawesi by Garay et al in 1996. Smith appears not to have seen any pseudobulbs and leaves, as his description describes only the flowers, preserved in alcohol.…”

“…Recently, Garay et al (1994) have produced a revised overview of the Bulbophyllum alliance in which, among other things, the sections Cirrhopetalum, Epicrianthes and Osyricera are reinstated as genera. Generic and sectional delimitation within subtribe Bulbophyllinae has been the subject of much conflicting debate and conjecture among taxonomists.…”

587. Bulbophyllum Plumatum

“…Some feel that the Cirrhopetalum alliance should be formalized as a section of Bulbophyllum (Seidenfaden, 1973). Others (Garay et al, 1994) give it generic status. However, it is impossible to find a satisfactory set of characters distinguishing the group as a whole, even if it is accepted that a number of species do not display the whole set.…”

“…However, it is impossible to find a satisfactory set of characters distinguishing the group as a whole, even if it is accepted that a number of species do not display the whole set. A further subdivision into smaller genera has been proposed (Garay et al , 1994, Siegerist, 2001), but this suffers from the same deficiencies. The first results of molecular investigation of Bulbophyllum sensu lato show that although the ‘ Cirrhopetalum alliance’ is indeed a natural group, it is one that is nested within Bulbophyllum .…”