The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Bulbophyllum pygmaeum

Etymology

pygmaeum: pigmy

Common Name(s)

Pygmy tree orchid, Bulbophyllum

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Bulbophyllum pygmaeum (Sm.) Lindl.

Family

Orchidaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

ICHPYG

Structural Class

Orchids

Synonyms

Ichthyostomum pygmaeum (Sm.) D.L.Jones, M.A.Clem. et Molloy

Distribution

Endemic. Three Kings, North, South, Stewart Islands.

Habitat

Coastal to montane. Mostly epiphytic on forest tree trunks and branches, sometimes on fallen logs, and found as a also rupestral on rocks, cliff faces or banks.

Features

Epiphytic or rupestral, rhizomatous, perennial forming widely spreading or diffuse mats up to 200 mm or more in diameter. Rhizomes heavily branched and intertwined, vermiform, pale pink to white, more or less fleshy, spongy; roots numerous slightly finer than rhizomes otherwise every similar. Pseudobulbs 3-5 mm diameter, green, bright green to pale green, globose, rugose, becoming deeply furrowed and wrinkled with age; each bearing a single leaf arising from the top within a somewhat prominent circular rim. Leaf subsessile to shortly petiolate up to 1.5 mm long; lamina 4-10 x 2-4 mm, dark green to green (rarely reddish green), oblong-ovate to almost orbicular, apex obtuse, upper surface minutely scabrid; undersides prominently keeled. Flower solitary, located on the terminus of a greenish valvate capsule comprising the ovary; peduncle arising from base of pseudobulb, up to 2.5-3.5 mm long at flowering, usually elongating in fruit. Floral bract 1(-2), campanulate-tubular to funneliform, membranous, hyaline or pale white. Pedicel very short (0.5-0.7 mm long), coarsely hirsute; ovary ovoid-ellipsoid, coarsely hirsute, splitting lengthwise at dehiscence. Perianth 1.5-2.0 mm long, white. Sepals minutely hairy, dorsal sepal shorter than lateral sepals. Petals broad, almost meeting behind column. Labellum ovate-oblong, obtuse, more or less thickened, roofing over pouch formed by lateral sepals and column foot. Column barely as long as its foot; wing not exceeding anther.

Similar Taxa

Bulbophyllum pygmaeum could be confused with B. tuberculatum but that species has a less diffuse, more compact growth habit; much larger dark green to maroon green, erect, ovoid to ovoid-ellipsoid pseudobulbs; larger and longer, linear-oblong leaves (up to 50 x 5 mm), usually more than one flower; and flowers which have orange to red labella, and white or pale cream petals and sepals. The leaves and ovary of B. tuberculatum lack the minute, coarse hairs that are a feature of B. pyhmaeum. The ovary of B. tuberculatum does not at maturity split to become valvate, nor does it retain the flower remnants on the uppermost valve.

Flowering

December - January

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

January - May

Propagation Technique

Easily grown in a hanging basket in standard orchid mix. Often can be strapped to a tree trunk and provided it is kept moist during the drier months it grows readily. This species does best in semi-shade. Should not be removed from the wild

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 38

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Minute seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 30 May 2015