Bulbophyllum tuberculatum
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp, DPS, DPT
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Orchids
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Detailed description
Epiphytic orchid forming tightly clumped masses up to 60 mm diameter on canopy branches and trunks of forest trees. Roots numerous, threaded tightly through encrusting lichens and other epiphytic plants. Pseudobulbs conpsicuous, 6-18 x 3-6 mm, green to dark green, ovoid to narrowly ovoid, turgid, smooth surface often spotted with white mealy cells, apex surmounted by tightly clasping, much reduced scale leaf. Leaf appearing sessile, usually solitary (rarely 2), up to 50 × 5 mm, dark green to purple-green, linear-oblong, acute, glabrous. Flowers racemose, 1-several-flowered, peduncle 10–20 mm long arising from base of pseudobulb; floral bracts triangular, pedicels very short. Ovary minutely tuberculate. Perianth 4 mm long, all aprts except labellum, white to whitish-pink. Dorsal sepal narrow-ovate. Lateral sepal similar but broader to triangular-ovate, slightly pouched at base. Petals smaller, ovate, obtuse. Labellum mobile on long slender claw; oblong-obovate to sub-hastate, orange to red, fading toward a yellow base; proximal part with 2 raised ridges, margins recurved at apex. Column short, 2-winged at apex. Capsules ovoid.
Similar taxa
None in New Zealand.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Kaitaia south to Wellington), South island (Marlborough and North-west Nelson). Probably more widespread than this as easily overlooked.
Habitat
An epiphytic plant, usually found on trunks and inner branches of trees in lowland or coastal districts. Favoured trees seem to be mataī (Prumnopitys taxifolia (D.Don) de Laub.), kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (A.Rich.) de Laub.), rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum Lamb.), tōtara (Podocarpus totara G.Benn. ex D.Don), tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa G.Benn.), hīnau (Elaeocarpus dentatus (J.R.Forst. et G.Forst.) Vahl) and rewarewa (Knightia excelsa R.Br.). It is always found with grey lichens of the genus Rimelia Hale et A.Fletcher, Physcia (Schred.) Michx., Heterodermia Trevis., and Ramalina Ach., and often threaded through the climbing fern Pyrrosia eleagnifolia (Bory) Hovenkamp.
Threats
Probably quite common, but easily overlooked, and current records imply it is naturally sparse. There have been some documented instances where accessible populations have been stripped bare by plant collectors, which is probably the only serious threat to this species. For this reason it is better to use caution when disclosing new findings.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Adelopetalum tuberculatum (Colenso) D.L.Jones, M.A.Clem. et Molloy
Taxonomic notes
The transfer of Bulbophyllum tuberculatum to Adelopetalum was made with minimal explanation. Australian orchidologists have rejected Adelopetalum in favour of a broader circumscription of Bulbophyllum (P. Weston pers. comm. 2014). This view is accepted here.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
(September)–November–April
Fruiting
November–August
Propagation technique
Not well known. Pieces taken from fallen branches have been successfully cultivated in standard orchid mix, or when strapped to a suitable branch, and these plants have frequently flowered. It is probably very easy to grow
Other information
Etymology
tuberculatum: Bearing little tubers
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
BULTUB
Chromosome number
2n = 38
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp, St
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Sparse
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Data Deficient
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Anonymous. 1962. Bulbophyllum tuberculatum Col. Auckland Botanical Society Journal 19: 1–2.
Moore LB, Edgar E. 1970. Flora of New Zealand, Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Monocotyledones except Gramineae. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 354 p.
Moss TC. 1968. Notes on Bulbophyllum tuberculatum(Orchidaceae). Wellington Botanical Society Bulletin 35: 36–39.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007: Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Bulbophyllum tuberculatum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/bulbophyllum-tuberculatum/ (Date website was queried)