Aerangis appendiculata (De Wild.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 114 (1918).
Synonyms:
Mystacidium appendiculatum De Wild., Pl. Nov. Horti Then.: t. 21 (1904).
Description:
Stem short bearing very numerous dark greyish roots 2-3 mm in diameter which radiate across the bark of the host tree or rock like those of a Mystacidium. Leaves 2-4, obovate, unequally bilobed at the tip, the lobes subacute, dark green with a conspicuous reticulate venation, up to 8 x 2 cm. Inflorescence pendulous, 11-14 cm long, bearing 1-7 flowers; peduncle terete, short, bearing 1 or 2 sheaths; rhachis slightly zigzag; bracts loose, ovate, obtuse 3-5 mm long. Flowers erect, white, with pinkish pedicel and spur, pedicel with ovary 11-14 mm long. Dorsal sepal erect or arching forward over the column, elliptic or obovate, subobtuse, 5-8 x 2-3.5 mm; lateral sepals similar, reflexed or spreading, slightly narrower than the dorsal sepal. Petals similar to the sepals and of the same size. Lip elliptic-oblong, minutely apiculate, (4.5-)7-8 x 2.8-4.5 mm; spur slender 4-6 cm long. Column short, erect, 1.5-2 mm long; rostellum very elongated, directed towards the mouth of the spur at first, porrect when the viscidium is removed; pollinia globose, stipes short, very slender; viscidium narrowly elliptic- lanceolate, the margins rolled over the rostellum, 2 mm long.
Habitat:
This orchid is found in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It occurs in a variety of habitats from evergreen forests to thickets to woodland in areas with heavy rainfall. Plants usually are epiphytic at 3750-6050 ft. (1150-1850 m), growing at low levels on tree trunks in heavy shade, but they may occasionally be found as lithophytes, usually at higher elevations, growing in bright light.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Aerangis appendiculata (De Wild.) Schltr,
Note:
This species closely resembles Aerangis mystacidii, differing in the slightly smaller flowers with a longer rostellum, and shorter spur. Some specimens seem to be on the borderline between the two species.
De Wildeman originally placed this species in the genus Mystacidium because it somewhat resembled, in its habit of growth, several of the South African species of that genus. There were no pollinaria on the type specimen so although he had referred to Rolfe's recently published account of the African angraecoid genera in Flora of Tropical Africa he states that he was not sure that this was its correct position. In fact the single pointed lobe of the rostellum, which De Wildeman described as 'un appendice recourbe' and which is alluded to by the specific epithet, is now considered to be characteristic of Aerangis and a few other genera: in Mystacidium the projecting part of the rostellum is 3-lobed.
Distribution:
SW. Tanzania to S. Trop. Africa
References:
La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 382 – 383; La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 16 – 17; La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 246; Stewart, J. (1979). A Revision of the African Species of Aerangis (Orchidaceae) Kew Bulletin, Vol. 34, No. 2 (1979), pp. 239-319; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 16.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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