Aerangis monantha Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 386 (1925).
Description:
Plants acaulis, very small (5cm tall) with 2-4 oblong or obovate-oblong leaves (2.5-4 x 7-1.3 cm), obviously attenuate basally, heavy coriaceous. Peduncle thin, filiform (barely 7 mm in diameter), I flowered, 1.5-2 cm long, provided with basal sheaths; bracts deltoid-obtuse, 1-1.5 mm long; flowers white, thin textured. Sepals lanceolate-acute (12-20 x 4 mm), 5 veined. Petals similar but slightly smaller (17 x 3 mm. Labellum oblong-lanceolate (20 x 7 mm), very acuminate, truncate basally, 9 veined, veins slightly projecting above. Column 5 mm long, margins broad, very rounded near the margins of the stigma, clinandrium much narrower than the stigma, margins lightly keeled; tongue of the rostellum much shorter than the column, (2 mm long) slightly enlarged apically. Anther topped with 2 very small bulblike projections in front, with a short obtuse lip half as wide as its base. Pedicel 16-17 mm long.
Habitat:
On treesand shrubs at elevations of 800 to 1200 meters.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1936/81; 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. 19.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | In culture | In culture |
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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. |
