Home

Aerangis cryptodon (Rchb.f.) Schltr., Orchideen: 598 (1914).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum cryptodon Rchb.f., Gard. Chron. 1883(1): 307 (1883).
Angorchis cryptodon (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 651 (1891).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Angorchis criptangis Thouars ex Kuntze, Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 458 (1894).
Aerangis malmquistiana Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 385 (1925).
Description:
Large plants, to 60 cm tall, shorter when epiphytic, rarely acaulescent; stern 9-30cm. long and 6- 12 mm in diameter; sheaths 8-10 mm long, with 7-9 heavily projecting veins; leaves 5-10, narrowly-lingulate (7-15 x 1.2-2.5 cm), often pleated lengthwise, thick, rigid, coriaceous, provided dorsally with a heavy keel. Inflorescence 15-30cm. long, often bearing flowers to its base, 8-20 flowered; flowers 1.5-2 cm apart; bracts heavy, very large, obtuse or apiculate, more than 10 mm, wide basally; basal joint heavy, slightly shorter than the bracts; flowers white, yellowish in the extremities, very fragrant, 5-7 cm long. Sepals oval-lanceolate-acute, 6-7 veined, the median sepal slightly shorter and wider (16-20 x 7-8 mm) than the laterals (21-25 x 6.5-7.5 mm), winged dorsally and wider apically. Petals similar to the median sepal. Labellum slightly obovate (16-20 x 7-9 mm apically), shortly acuminate with 9-13 visible veins, provided with 2 denticulate keels on the ventral-basal surface in front of the spur oriface; spur filiform 4- 6 cm long. Column papillous, 9-10 mm tall, keeled on the dorsal surface, channeled below; margin of the clinandrium narrow, keels papillous with a small visible notch behind. Tongue of the rostellum sub spatulate, obtuse apically, 2 mm long, forming a small group of rhomboid appendages above, with a small triangular lobe pointing toward the pollina. Anther provided behind with a brown, slightly protruding, swollen, verrucose appendage and with 2 small lateral teeth. Pedicel 4-5 cm long.
Habitat:
This orchid is found in the Ankarara Mountains south of Antananorivo as well as near Fianarantsoa and Toamasina. They grow in humid evergreen forest and on rocky outcrops on basalt slopes at 650-5900 ft. (200-1800 m).
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Aerangis cryptodon (Rchb.f.) Schltr.
Notes:
Most hobbyists would probably not be aware of the differences between Aerangis ellisii and Aerangis cryptodon.
Distribution:
Comoros, Madagascar
References:
Du Puy, D., P. Cribb, J. Bosser, J. & C. Hermans. 1999. The Orchids of Madagascar. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, England. 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. 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. 20.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Photos/drawings:
Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore.
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.

In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	Flower very close	Flower very close	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.	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.