Notes to the Taxonomic Affiliation of the Bulbophyllym Sect. Physometra (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) Based on Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses

To solve the taxonomic affiliation of Bulbophyllum physometrum, the only known species of the Bulbophyllym sect. Physometra (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), we conducted phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear markers, i.e., ITS and the low-copy gene Xdh, and the plastid region matK. We used Asian Bulbophyllum taxa, with a special focus on species from the sections Lemniscata and Blepharistes, i.e., the only Asian sections of this genus with bifoliate pseudobulbs, as in B. physometrum. Unexpectedly, the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that B. physometrum is most probably more related to the representatives of the sections Hirtula and Sestochilos than Blepharistes or Lemniscata.

Automated summary

To determine the taxonomic affiliation of Bulbophyllum physometrum, phylogenetic analyses were conducted using nuclear markers (ITS and Xdh) and the plastid region matK. Unexpectedly, the results showed that B. physometrum is more closely related to the sections Hirtula and Sestochilos rather than Blepharistes or Lemniscata, which are the only Asian sections of the genus with bifoliate pseudobulbs.