Bulbophyllum vaginatum
Common Name: Vagina Bulbophyllum, Magrah Batu
Growth Requirements (including habitat): It grows on the branches and trunks of trees in open areas, lowland forests, as well as freshwater swamp forests. It grows well in semi-shaded to full-shaded conditions, and requires only occasional misting.
Habit (Herb/Shrub/Treelet/Tree): It is an epiphytic orchid, with a creeping and freely branching sympodial growth habit. Its rhizome bears pseudobulbs. The leaves are borne as one shortly stalked leaf per pseudobulb spaced 3 to 5 cm apart. The pseudobulbs are ovoid and yellow. The shortly stalked, thick leaves are oblong, 2.5–12 by 1.2–2.5 cm, with a bilobed leaf tip and obtuse leaf lobes. The flowers are borne on umbels which originate from the base of the pseudobulbs. The flowers sepals and petals are pale yellow. The dorsal sepal is ovate with an acute tip and is ciliate. The lateral sepals are joined together at the base, measuring about 6.5 cm long. The yellow flower lip is oblong, narrowing at the tip and recurved, measuring about 2 mm long. Each flower cluster consists of up to 15 flowers. Its fruits are round or oblong-shaped capsules that are brown or black when ripe, splitting open to release the tiny, wind-dispersed seeds.
Pictures from: http://uforest.org/Species/B/Bulbophyllum_vaginatum.html
Uses: The plants flower simultaneously; thereby a branch bearing several plants will produce a very pretty sight. Hence, it can be grown as an ornamental epiphyte of trees in gardens, parks or roadsides.
It is reported that the hot juice from the roasted fruits can be used as a cure for ear-ache by dripping it into the ear.
Interesting Information: Flowering of the Vagina Bulbophyllum occurs gregariously after a period of rain, probably triggered by a drop in ambient temperature.
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