Angraecum meirax (Rchb.f.) H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 7: 120 (1938).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Aeranthes meirax Rchb.f., Flora 68: 540 (1885).
Mystacidium meirax (Rchb.f.) Bolus, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 25: 181 (1889).
Macroplectrum meirax (Rchb.f.) Finet, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 9: 30 (1907).
Jumellea meirax (Rchb.f.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 429 (1915).
Pseudojumellea meirax (Rchb.f.) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 21 (2013).
Description:
Plants acaulis or subacaulis, not more than 10 cm. tall, leaves 3-5, widely linear (2.2-4.5 cm. x 3- 6 mm.), rigid and bilobed obtuse apically. Inflorescence single flowered, in the upper leaves; peduncie short (5-l mm.), covered in the basal half by 3 very loose, tubular sheaths; bracts loose, obtuse, brown, 6-8 mm. long, about a third the length of the pedicel. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, attenuate from the base to the apex, very acute, 3.2-4 cm. long and 7 veined. Petals oval-lanceolate (4 x 1.2 cm. in the basal third), very attenuate-acute above the middle, provided below with a very projecting, median keel toward the base; spur filiform, 12-13 cm. long. Column short; back margins of the clinandrium dilate in a deltoid apicule, l mm. tall; auricles rounded on their lower edge, enlarged in an acute angle on their upper edge; median tongue of the rostellum linear, much longer than the auricles. Anther not known. Pedicel 24-28 mm. long.
Habitat:
Grows epiphytically in forest and flowers in October.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
Eastern Madagascar
References:
WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 27.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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