Bryobium

Bryobium, commonly known as urchin orchids[3] or 藓兰属 (xian lan shu),[4] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytic or lithophytic plants with large, fleshy pseudobulbs, each with up to three leathery leaves and small, often hairy flowers. These orchids are found from tropical Asia to northern Australia.

Bryobium
Illustration by John Nugent Fitch of Bryobium hyacinthoides from Curtis's Botanical Magazine[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Podochileae
Genus: Bryobium
Lindl.[2]
Synonyms[2]

Notheria P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm.

Description

Orchids in the genus are epiphytic or lithophytic herbs with thread-like roots and relatively large, fleshy pseudobulbs that are usually covered by papery bracts when young. Each pseudobulb has up to three flat, usually leathery leaves. The flowers are usually white, cream-coloured or pinkish, do not open widely and last for up to a few days. The dorsal sepal is free but the lateral sepals are fused to the base of the column. The petals are free from each other and usually smaller than the sepals. The labellum often has three lobes, in which case the side lobes are erect.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Bryobium was first formally described in 1836 by John Lindley who published the description in A natural system of botany, or, A systematic view of the organization, natural affinities, and geographical distribution, of the whole vegetable kingdom.[2][6] The name Bryobium is derived from the Ancient Greek words bryon meaning "moss"[7]:535 and bios meaning "life",[7]:478 an apparent reference to the habit of plants in this genus.[5]

Species list

Bryobium species accepted by the Plants of the World Online as of February 2021:[8]

  • Bryobium atrorubens (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium bicristatum (Blume) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium cordiferum (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium diaphanum (P.O'Byrne & J.J.Verm.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium dischorense (Schltr.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
  • Bryobium eriaeoides (F.M.Bailey) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
  • Bryobium hyacinthoides (Blume) Y.P.Ng & P.J.Cribb
  • Bryobium irukandjianum (St.Cloud) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
  • Bryobium kawengicum (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium lancifolium (Hook.f.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium lanuginosum (J.J.Wood) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium leavittii (Kraenzl.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium montanum (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium moultonii (Ridl.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium pudicum (Ridl.) Y.P.Ng & P.J.Cribb
  • Bryobium puguahaanense (Ames) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium pullum (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium punctatum (J.J.Sm.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium queenslandicum (T.E.Hunt) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
  • Bryobium rendovaense J.J.Wood
  • Bryobium retusum (Blume) Y.P.Ng & P.J.Cribb
  • Bryobium rhizophoreti (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium rubiferum (J.J.Sm.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium senile (Ames) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium subclausum (Schltr.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium tridens (Ames) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen
  • Bryobium ventricosum (Leav.) Schuit., Y.P.Ng & H.A.Pedersen

Distribution and habitat

Orchids in the genus Bryobium grow on the upper parts of rainforest trees or on rocks and boulders. They occur in China, the Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Borneo, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Peninsula Malaysia, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Christmas island, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Queensland, Australia and New Caledonia.[2]

References
  1. Prain, David (ed.) (1908). "Eria hyacinthoides". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 134: TAB. 8229. Retrieved 10 January 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. "Bryobium". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 461. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. Chen, Xinqi; Luo, Yi-Bo; Wood, Jeffrey J. "Bryobium". Flora of China. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  5. "Bryobium". Trin keys. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  6. Lindley, John (1836). A natural system of botany, or, A systematic view of the organization, natural affinities, and geographical distribution, of the whole vegetable kingdom (ed. 2). Paternoster Row: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Longman. p. 446. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  8. "Bryobium". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Kews. 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  • Media related to Bryobium at Wikimedia Commons
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