Sixty-one micro-miniature flowers on two sequentially flowering inflorescences, 31 buds on a third inflorescence, and one additional inflorescence with an indeterminate number of buds, all arranged circumferentially on the four erect inflorescences that emerge basally from the pseudobulb and are presented mostly within the foliage of an immaculately clean, robust, densely compact, multi-growth plant measuring 33 cm wide by 16 cm tall grown in a 22 cm diameter tree fern pot; bifoliate conical pseudobulbs 1.5 cm wide x 3.4 cm tall bear lanceloate leaves 1.5 cm wide by 9.0 cm long; flower segments intense rich burnt read overall; lip olive green overlaid burnt red, three distinct darker stripes from base of lip to apex; substance medium; texture matte; native to Madagascar; recognized for rarity in cultivation and educational value, the latter highlighted by compact growth habit, apparent ease of culture, and interesting flower coloration; confirmed by SITF

Purchased from Lourens Grobler, AFRI-ORCHIDS

Email correspondence between Al, John S. & Lourens

See the correspondence below. Looks like Lourens Grobler made the I.D. by looking in a book and decided that what was given to him by his friend/collector was close enough to be sold as subclavatum.

Albert V. Messina M.D.
Jun 15, 2019, 8:28 PM (3 days ago)

to Lourens

Hi Lourens: I just received a Certificate of Botanical Recognition for a Bulbophyllum subclavatum I purchased from you.The award is provisional pending species confirmation by the AOS Species Identification Task Force.They will have some difficulty identifying this because there is nothing in the literature on it, except the original species nova by Schlecter 1925. Questions: Who did the identification of this plant? Is he contactable? What literature was used? I can't find any pictures which look similar,even close,to this plant. Jay Pfahl has several which are quite disparate and not close to my plant. Do you have, or can you direct me to ,some of the literature/photos showing a true subclavatum? I can send pix, if you like.
Let me know. Thanks.

Albert


Lourens Grobler
4:21 PM (1 hour ago)

to me

Hi Albert.
Congrats on the award.
The plant was collected by a friend in Madagascar and I identified it using Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar by Cribb and Hermans, description 32.77. A photo is also shown.

I am not a taxonomist but I believe the ID to be correct or very close.
Hope this helps
Kind Regards, Lourens