Pale Umbrella Orchid Facts
- This magnificent product of floral evolution most frequently goes by the highly descriptive common name of the Pale Umbrella Orchid. For the moment, the natural marvel has no other accepted general title. Though certainly not unknown, that’s somewhat uncommon.
- Within the scientific community, however, it’s perhaps much better known by its purely technical designation. Unfortunately, that particular term’s virtually unpronounceable for the average layperson. That’s because it bears the formal epithet of Bulbophyllum longiflorum.
- The remarkable Angiosperm received that tag due to the efforts of Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars. The highly respected French botanist accomplished the first acknowledgement of it as a separate and distinct species. He managed that scientifically noteworthy feat in 1822.
- Sadly, though, the beautiful Pale Umbrella Orchid currently finds itself in somewhat dire straits. That lamentable situation further holds true throughout the entirety of its native range. The IUCN therefore presently lists is as Vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species.
- The remarkable plant constsntly faces multiple threats to its continued existence as a species. Like most forms of life on earth today, most of these dangers stem from the actions of man. In its case, these include illegal collecting of the plant and the dangers of climate change.
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Pale Umbrella Orchid Physical Description
Like its many relatives around the globe, the amazing Pale Umbrella Orchid instantly captivates those individuals fortunate enough to view it in the wild. Also following its kindred’s pattern, the breathtaking flora does so due to a combination of its great beauty and intriguing base nature.
This marvelous species typically develops multiple long, relatively thin, stems, called rhizomes. These features usually extend outward along a surface, typically with a single leaf each. This foliage has an elongated oval form, and generally displays a light to moderately-dark shade of green.
Yet, it’s understandable that the highly distinctive flowers of the amazing plant represent what receives the most complimentary thoughts. These delicate marvels of botanical evolution develop at the ends of each of the stems. This part of the Angiosperm truly impresses the casual viewer.
The gorgeous blooms of the wonder appear in obvious groups ranging from 5 – 8 in number. These assemblages also spread outward in a semi-circular pattern. Flowers vary in length, even on the same parent. However, each typically averages somewhere between 3.9 – 7.9 in (10 – 20 cm).
The always fabulous Pale Umbrella Orchid manifests each of these eye-catching blossoms situated at the end of a short, even thinner stem. That part of the orchid measures a mean length equaling 0.6 – 0.8 in (1.5 – 2.0 cm). This also projects nearly horizontally from the end of the rhizome.
Yet, it’s the stunning appearance of those above-mentioned flowers that must be seen to be believed. These grow highly elongated in nature, measuring an average 1.2 – 1.6 in (3 – 4 cm) in length. In width, though, these blooms generally manage a width of about 0.12 – 0.2 in (0.3 0.5 cm).
The pattern of coloring of these marvelous aspects of the flora also makes them fully deserving of admiration. That’s because the backgrounds vary, ranging from yellowish to greenish-cream. That’s usually augmented even further by the presence of quite small, random purple dots or spots.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Tracheophyta
- Class: Monocots
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Genus: Bulbophyllum
- Species: B. longiflorum
Pale Umbrella Orchid Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The spectacular Pale Umbrella Orchid also evolved as native to an extremely unusual habitat range. That’s true due to the fact that it lives across a comparatively wide expanse of the earth’s surface. Amazingly, though, within that greater zone of habitation, populations seem to be sparsely spread.
Some of these lucky locations include certain small sections of both Africa and Australia, and Malaysia, in Asia. From there, though, its only seen natively on a number of island and archipelagos. These include such sites as Fiji, New Guinea, Seychelles, and New Caledonia, to name a few.
This botanical wonder also developed specific requirements regarding its choice of habitat that run to both ends of the spectrum. In one respect, it’s very exact pertaining to where it chooses to live. Yet, in another manner, it displays decidedly strong flexibility about its habitat location.
For starters, the species appears naturally almost exclusively in either hill forests or tropical rainforests. That’s very specific. But, inside of those two regions, it dwells at a wide range of altitudes. The plant lives at heights that range from near sea level to 5,600 ft (1,707 m).
The beautiful Pale Umbrella Orchid adapted surprisngly well to the different parts of the world in which it appears. It therefore flowers during various periods of the year in its separate areas of habitation. In all regions, however, it achieves pollination via the actions of numerous insects.
Inside Africa, the remarkable product of Nature typically blooms between the months of October and January. In Australia, though, this activity usually occurs from January to March. Incredibly, though, in New Guinea the flora blossoms continually throughout the entirety of the year.
Like many of its extant relatives found around the world, this marvel took a different path when it comes to achieving its nourishment. It developed as an epiphyte, meaning it only grows on the surface of other plants, such as trees, and draws its nourishment from it surroundings.
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