John Lindley created the genus Cirrhopetalum in 1830. The first specimen which became the type for this genus was Cirrhopetalum thouarsii, named for a French botanist who spent ten years exiled to Africa. Lindley created the name from the Greek, kirrhos- meaning yellow or tawny, and petalon meaning leaf or petal--tawny petals.

Louis-Marie Aubert Aubert du Petit-Thouars left France in 1792 after two years imprisonment during the French Revolution. He was able to return in 1802. In 1822, he established the genus Bulbophyllum. As taxonomy goes, Cirrhopetalum was dumped into Bulbophyllum, but it now appears the two genera will be separated, but classified under the same subtribe, Bulbophyllinae.

There are approximately 150 species of Cirrhopetalum. Each of the 'petals' in the photograph are actually flowers. These flowers have an articulated lip (the yellow area) sensitive to the slightest breeze. In motion, these yellow areas look like some googly-eyed child's toy. Note: Some of these lips were in motion when the photograph was taken and appear out of focus.

The function of the articulated lip is to attract the pollinator, a fly, and knock it off-balance when it lands. The unbalanced fly tumbles against the pollinia where it sticks to the fly's back. The fly carries the pollen packet to the next inflorescence it visits.

Cirrhopetalum also have osmophores, specialized glands which release a fragrance. In Cirrhopetalum, the fragrance has been described as musty, mushroom-like, or carrion scented. Many orchids produce intense fragrances ranging from chocolaty to rank. Some have no fragrance to our noses. Interestingly, just as flowers have 'colors' and patterns humans cannot see, they also emit fragrances humans cannot smell.