Greek bulbos – bulb; phyllon – leaf; an allusion to the attachment of the leaf to the top of the pseudobulb.
Epiphytic or epilithic herbs, sympodial, with creeping or pendent rhizomes. Stems thickened into flattened, rounded pseudobulbs, usually dense, green. Leaves apical, 1 or 2, thin to leathery, stalkless or stalked. Inflorescences usually basal racemes, spikes or umbels, erect or pendent. Flowers usually resupinate, 1-many, minute to large, variously coloured. Sepals similar, dorsal free, laterals fused to column foot forming a pouch. Petals smaller than sepals, free. Labellum entire or 3-lobed, hinged, fleshy, often hairy, tip curved under. Column short, often 2-winged or toothed, with a long foot. Pollinia 4, waxy.
This extremely large genus displays great variation in vegetative and floral form with a number of distinct sections currently being recognised. It appears likely that future revisions will result in a proliferation of new genera to more adequately accommodate such a diverse group of orchids.
About 2000 species from most tropical parts of the world especially New Guinea.
Rounded flattened pseudobulbs; pouched lateral sepals.
Siegerist (2001), Vermeulen (2002).
Source: (2005). Orchidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
