Angraecum mauritianum (Poir.) Frapp., Cat. Orchid. Reunion: 13 (1889).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Orchis mauritiana Poir. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl. 4: 601 (1798).
Limodorum mauritianum (Poir.) Sw., Adnot. Bot.: 59 (1829).
Mystacidium mauritianum (Poir.) T.Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 53 (1894).
Pseudojumellea mauritiana (Poir.) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 21 (2013).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum gladiifolium Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: 53 (1822).
Aerobion gladiifolium (Thouars) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 716 (1826).
Aeranthes gladiifolia (Thouars) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 6: 900 (1864).
Angorchis gladiifolia (Thouars) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 651 (1891).
Mystacidium gladiifolium (Thouars) Rolfe, Orchid Rev. 12: 47 (1904).
Macroplectrum gladiifolium (Thouars) Pfitzer ex Finet, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 9: 27 (1907).
Description:
More or less pendent epiphytes, stem elongated (25-40 cm.), compressed, branched and sinuate. Leaves numerous, regularly distichous, 15 mm. apart or more, sheaths compressed-ancipitous, 12-I5 mm. long, green and 10-12 veined; limbus thin, oblong-lanceolate (4.5.6 x 1-1.4 cm.), much wider medially, obtuse basally and attenuate from the middle to the acute apex then toward the base. Inflorescences from in the sheaths; peduncle 12-15mm. long, clad basally with 2 short sheaths; bracts 5 mm. long, shortly acute; flower pure white. Sepals lanceolate (15-20 x 4 mm.), attenuate-acute toward the apex, much wider in the lower third, the median slightly shorter, the laterals shortly joined basally. Petals lanceolate (12 x 3 mm.). Labellum lanceolate-acute, much wider (7 mm.) in the lower fifth; spur filiform, 8cm. long generally. Column thicker than tall (3 mm.); auricles wide, flat, slightly projecting. Anther slightly carinate above, slightly notched behind and in front. Pedicel 3-3.5 cm. long.
Habitat:
Epiphytes; in forests between 200 and 1400m. alt.; flowering: February.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, hot to cool growing epiphytic.
Distribution:
Madagascar and the Mascarienes.
References:
Historie Particulier des Plantes Orchidees Recueilles Sur Trois Iles Australes d'Afrique Thouars 1822; AOS Bulletin Vol 56 No 3 1987; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; Encylopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Cultivated Angraecoid Orchids Of Madagascar Hillerman & Holst 1986; Miniature Orchids Northern 1988; Flora Of Madagascar Perrier 1981; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; Miniature Orchids Frownie 2007; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 27.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | In culture | In culture |
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| Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| 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 Alain Bastide. Image used with kind permission. |
