Two new species of Bulbophyllum orchids have been discovered by a team of researchers from the College of Natural Resources, National Biodiversity Centre (NBC), Department of Forest and Park Services, and Department of Plant and Soil Science in the United States. Bulbophyllum gurungianum and Bulbophyllum punakhaense are the names of the two new orchid species. Currently, Bhutan is home to 65 species of Bulbophyllum orchids. The journal article is published in the journal Lankesteriana in 2023, describing the new species.
Bulbophyllum gurungianum is named in honor of Professor Dhan Bdr. Gurung, College of Natural Resources, Lobesa, Punakha Dzongkhag who first discovered the orchid in 2006 and for his immense contribution to the orchid taxonomy in Bhutan. Bulbophyllum punakhaense is named after Punakha Dzongkhag where it was first spotted and collected the specimen.
Bulbophyllum gurungianum and Bulbophyllum punakhaense are both epiphytic plants that grow on tree trunks and branches in broadleaf forests. The latter species is found between elevations of 2000 and 2700 m, while the former is found between elevations of 1400-2000 m. The specimens were collected by Phub Gyeltshen, a student of forest science at the College of Natural Resources, and Kinley Rabgay, a forest ranger with the Wangdue Forest Division in Punakha Dzongkhag in October 2022. The specimens including the holotypes are deposited at the National Herbarium THIM.
