Bulbophyllum caldericola facts for kids

Bulbophyllum caldericola is a special kind of orchid that often grows on other plants or rocks. It's an epiphyte when it grows on trees, or a lithophyte when it grows on rocks. This orchid has small, rounded stems called pseudobulbs. These pseudobulbs are spaced out along long, hanging stems called rhizomes. Each pseudobulb has one thick, green leaf. The orchid also produces a single white flower with yellow tips. You can find this unique plant growing on the trunks and big branches of rainforest trees. It lives near the border between New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.

What it Looks Like

Bulbophyllum caldericola is a herb that grows on trees or rocks. Its long stems, called rhizomes, mostly hang down. Only the very bottom part of the plant attaches to the surface it's growing on. The pseudobulbs, which are like small, swollen stems, are about 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. They are spaced about 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) apart along the rhizomes.

Each pseudobulb has one thick, fleshy leaf. This leaf is shaped like a narrow oval or spear. It can be quite long, from 250–800 mm (10–30 in) (about 10 to 31 inches) and 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) wide. The top surface of the leaf has a groove or channel.

A single flower grows on a stem that is about 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long. The flower is white with yellow tips. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals, are shaped like narrow triangles and are about 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long. The two side sepals are joined together for about half their length. The inner parts, called petals, are much shorter than the sepals. The special lower petal, called the labellum, is orange and has a sharp bend in the middle. This orchid usually flowers in October and November.

Its Name and History

The scientific name Bulbophyllum caldericola was first officially described in 1993. A botanist named Gerry Walsh wrote about it in a publication called The Orchadian. He described it from a plant he found in the Tweed Range.

The second part of its name, caldericola, tells us something special about where it lives. It comes from two Latin words: caldaria and the ending -cola. -cola means "dweller" or "inhabitant." This name is perfect because this orchid is found inside the caldera (the large, bowl-shaped hollow) of the ancient Tweed Volcano.

Where it Lives

This orchid grows on the trunks and larger branches of rainforest trees. You can find it at heights above 700 m (2,000 ft) (about 2,300 feet). It lives in the Tweed Range and Border Ranges areas of Australia.