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Tridactyle gentilii (De Wild.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 36(2): 145 (1918).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum gentilii De Wild., Not. Pl. Util. Congo 1: 140 (1903).
Description:
Stems long, to 80 cm, becoming pendent with age and, in the wild, eventually forming large, tangled masses; roots smooth, 3-4 mm in diameter. Leaves numerous, 10-20 x 1-2 cm, linear, unequally bilobed at the apex. Inflorescences arising along the stem, to 15 cm long, 7- to 15-flowered. Flowers scented, white, pate green or cream, sometimes with pinkish tips to the segments. Pedicel and ovary 6-7 mm long; bracts sheathing, 2 mm long. Sepals 7-9 x 3-5 mm, oblong or ovate, obtuse, the laterals rather oblique. Petals 7-9 x 2 mm, linear- lanceolate. Lip auriculate at the base, 9-10 mm long, 13-16 mm across at t4e widest point, trilobed in the middle; midlobe 2.5-4 x 2.5 mm, triangular; side lobes spreading, oblong, 6-8 mm long, deeply fringed at the tips. Spur 4-8 cm (2-3 in.) long. Column 2-3 mm long.
Habitat:
Epiphytic in forest and wet woodland, to 2200 m (7300 ft.).
Cultivation:
With its growth habit, this species would hest be accommodated in a basket, at intermediate to warm temperatures, with high humidity and fairly good light.
Distribution:
Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa (KwaZulu- Natal), Uganda, Zaire, Zambia.
References:
AOS Bulletin Vol 39 No 10 1970; The Orchids of South Central Africa Williamson 1977; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982; Malawi Orchids La Croix 1985; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; Orchids of Kenya Stewart & Campbell 1996; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation LaCroix 1997; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 2 Pope 1998; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and Campbell 2006; World Checklist of Monocotyledons. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots/ accessed 21.03.2017
Images:
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Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph© João Farminhão/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© João Farminhão/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.