Aerangis pallidiflora H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 7: 36 (1938).
Description:
Plants acaulis or sub acaulis, epiphytic; sheaths short, with 6 heavy veins; leaves 3-6, oblong or widely elliptical (3-7.2 x 1.2 cm), very thin textured, often slightly flaciform, attenuate basally with 15 visible veins. Inflorescence 2-3 times longer than the leaves; peduncle 6-8 cm long, thin, shorter than the flower cluster, with 3-4 short, obtuse sheaths; rachis very thin, 10-12 cm long with very wide support branched at the base of the pedicel, which are always winged, slightly inserted and covered by the bracts; bracts obtuse, generally 2 mm long; flowers white and slightly transparent, in very loose clusters of 7-9. Sepals lanceolate (8 x 2 mm), sub apiculate-acute, 3 veined. Petals lanceolate-acute (8 x 1.2 mm), 3 veined. Labellum sub apiculate-acute, veined. Petals lanceolate-acute (9x 2.1 mm), 7 veined; spur 2.1- 2.3 cm long, very thin, slightly enlarged in the apical third, attenuate; the veins of the lateral sepals, petals and labellum arched basally. Anther slightly enlarged (1 mm wide), truncate apically, provided behind with a connical, appendage, pollina globulous, cauda filiform, and viscidium truncate, smaller than the pollina. Column 1.8 mm long, ribbed on the margins of the stigma, enlarged and rounded; clinandrium oblique, margins entire, wider than the stigma; rostellum linear, 13 mm long. Pedicel 1 cm long.
Habitat:
Epiphytes of branches, between 1000 -1500 m alt.; flowering in February.
Cultivation:
Temperate temperatures, low light level and good air movement. A lot of watering during the hot season, less in winter but never stop to give it water otherwise it could dehydrate very quickly. In pot with fine barks and chopped sphagnum or mounted on a slab, with sphagnum or natural moss.
Distribution:
N. & NE. Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1938/81; AOS Bulletin Vol 55 No 8 1986; An Introduction to the Cultivated Angraecoid Orchids of Madagascar Hillerman & Holst 1986; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species Parsons & Gerritsen 2013; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 20.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | In culture | Habitat/ In situ | Habitat/ In situ |
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| Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
