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erangis ellisii (Rchb.f.) Schltr., Orchideen: 598 (1914).
Synonyms:
Angraecum ellisii Rchb.f., Flora 55: 278 (1872).
Angorchis ellisii (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 561 (1891).
Description:
Robust succulent plant, stem woody, erect to slightly arching, up to 60 cm long, 10-12 mm in diameter, covered by stem sheaths at the base; copious silver-white roots emerging from the basal half, 4>5 mm in diameter. Leaves 6-12, distichous, 10 x 25 cm long, 3>6 cm wide, ligulate, broadly elliptic or oblong, fleshy, unequally bilobed at the tip, the longer lobe protruding by 5-10 mm, dark green, margins curved downwards, the central vein prominent. Inflorescence at first erect then arching to pendent, arising from the axils of the lower leaves, up to 60 cm long, 5>8 mm in diameter, somewhat zig-zag with the flowers borne on a 4-9 mm projection, 10-15 flowers per inflorescence; floral bracts broadly triangular, forming a cup under the base of the pedicel, often brownish-green, 6>9 mm long. Flowers white tinged with pinkish brown or green, 18-22 mm apart, all the same size along the inflorescence, strongly evening-night scented. Pedicellate ovary curved at the base but straight towards the base of the flower, brownish green, 3>4.5 cm long, c. 3 mm in diameter. Dorsal sepal erect with the tip arching forward, broadly oblanceolate, acute, 18-26 mm long, 5-9 mm wide. Lateral sepals strongly reflexed, oblanceolate, cuspidate, more or less keeled on the exterior, 18-29 mm long, 6-9 mm wide. Petals reflexed, similar to the sepals, 16-26 mm long. Lip deflexed parallel with the spur, oblanceolate or obovate, the margins reflexed in the basal half, acute or cuspidate with 2 conspicuous ridges at the base, disappearing into the mouth of the spur, 14-23 mm long, 7>12 mm wide; spur pendent, straight or a little curved, 18-27 cm long, 1-1.2 mm in diameter, slightly widened towards the base and thinning at the tip. Column porrect or semi-erect, fused to the dorsal sepal for part of its length, 7-12 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, a little papillose or hairy on the sides and upper surface and around the short clinandrium; anther cap shortly beaked, c. 2 mm in diameter, rostellum broadened at first, the porrect part narrowed. Pollinia globose, yellow, 1 mm in diameter, stipes slender, common viscidium elliptic.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Aerangis ellisii (B.S.Williams) Schltr.,
Habitat:
Plants are found in the regions around Antananarivo, Antsiranana, and Fianarantsoa where they grow in humid, evergreen forests or on rocky outcrops at 1000-5900 ft. (300-1800 m).
Distribution:
Madagascar: endemic, with records form the provinces of Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantos and Toliara; it is widespread in the highlands with the distribution extending to the east.
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. Du Puy, D., P. Cribb, J. Bosser, J. and C. Hermans. 1999. The Orchids of Madagascar. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, England. Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 18.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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Habitat/ In situ	Habitat/ In situ	Habitat/ In situ	Habitat/ In situ	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.	Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.

In culture	In culture	Flower very close up
Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.