Home

Aerangis fastuosa (Rchb.f.) Schltr., Orchideen: 598 (1914).
Synonyms:
Angraecum fastuosum Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1881(2): 748 (1881).
Angorchis fastuosa (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 651 (1891)
Rhaphidorhynchus fastuosus (Rchb.f.) Finet, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 54(9): 38 (1907).
Description:
Small plants, cases oblong-cuneate, generally to 7.5 cm long, rugose on the upper surface. Inflorescences 3 flowered; bracts cucullate, one-fourth the length of the pedicel. Sepals and petals lingulate oblong, obtusely acute. Labellum narrower and acute; spur filiform, twice as long as the pedicel. Column short and thin. Anther apicule bidentate apically. Rostellum very elongated, penetrating the spur.
Habitat:
Plants are found in eastern Madagascar at about 3000 ft. (910 m) in the region that marks the transition between the coastal plain and the central plateau.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Aerangis fastuosa (Rchb.f.) Schltr.
Notes:
Everything about Aerangis fastuosa is thê epitome of neatness, and this sleek little plant is truly as "pretty as a picture," like a pert little lady wearing a white jacket. It grows very slowly, and maintains its small, compact appearance for years, while blooming faithfully every spring (March—April) in the northern hemisphere, providing basic requirements are satisfied. The flowers are quite large for the size of the plant. They are star-like, often slightly closed, or trumpet-shaped, and with excellent substance. Once well-established, this species is literally covered with snowwhite flowers which produce a dramatic effect amid the small, dark green leaves. The flowers vary from slightly to highly fragrant, especially at flight, smelling of tuberoses, and last for 3 weeks or more. A plant in full bloom reminds one of Amesiella philippinense. It is a real little gem that is indispensable to any collection of angraecoids or miniatures, and it should rate very highly with those who grow under lights or in low-light-level conditions.
Distribution:
Madagascar
References:
De la Bathie, H., and H. Humbert. [1939, 1941] 1981. Flora of Madagascar 1-2. The Government of Madagascar and the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Translated and published in 1 vol., Steven D. Beckman, 621 Palm Ave., Lodi, CA, U.S.A. 95240. Hamilton, R. 1988. When does it flower? 2nd ed. Robert M. Hamilton, 9211 Beckwith Road, Richmond, B. C., Canada V6X 1V7. Hawkes, A. (1965) 1987. Encyclopaedia of cultivated orchids. Faber and Faber, London. Hillerman, F. 1986. A cultural manual for Angraecoid orchid growers. Fred Hillerman. Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Veitch, J., and Sons. (1887-1894) 1963, 1981. Manual of orchidaceous plants, vols. 1-2. James Veitch and Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London. Reprint, vol. I, A. Asher and Co., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; reprint, vol. 2, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 18.01-2017; 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
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.