Intergeneric classification of genus Bulbophyllum from peninsular Malaysia based on combined morphological and rbcL sequence data

Bulbophyllum thou. is largest genus in orchidaceae family and a well-known plant of tropical area. the present study provides a comparative morphological study of 38 bulbophyllum spp. as well as molecular sequence analysis of large subunit of rubisco (rbcl),to infer the intergeneric classification for studied taxa of genus bulbophyllum. thirty morphological characters were coded in a data matrix,and used in phenetic analysis. morphological result was strongly consistent with earlier classification,with exception of b. auratum,b. gracillimum,b. mutabile and b. limbatum status. furthermore molecular data analysis of rbcl was congruent with morphological data in some aspects. species interrelationships specified using combination of rbcl sequence data with morphological data. the results revealed close affiliation in 11 sections of bulbophyllum from peninsular malaysia. consequently,based on this study generic status of sections cirrhopetalum and epicrianthes cannot longer be supported,as they are deeply embedded within the genus bulbophyllum. © 2016,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.