Bulbophyllum sect. Tripudianthes Seidenfaden (1979: 188) .
Type:— B. tripudians Parish & Reichenbach (1875: 154) .
= Tripudianthes Szlachetko & Kras (2007: 94) .
10–11 species in Nepal, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, S China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Java, and Sumatra. In Vietnam 3–5 species, 1 endemic.
Identification key to species of Bulbophyllum section Tripudianthes reported in the flora of Vietnam Species, the occurrence of which needs confirmation are designated by asterisk (*)
1. Median sepal with entire margin ........................................................................................................................................................2
–. Median sepal with ciliate or fimbriate margin....................................................................................................................................4
2. Median sepal attenuate, with filiform appendage at apex ................................................................................................. B. wallichii
–. Median sepal acuminate, rarely with short seta at apex .....................................................................................................................3
3. Median sepal ovate, acuminate; lateral sepals 3–5.5 cm long; petals acuminate.......................................................... B. tripudians *
–. Median sepal narrowly ovate, acute; lateral sepals ca. 2.5 cm long; petals aristate .................................................. B. kanburiense *
4. Median sepals ovate, attenuate................................................................................................................................. B. viridipallidum
–. Median sepal elliptic, obtuse to acute............................................................................................................................... B. refractum