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Angraecum humbertii H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 8: 46 (1939).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Arachnangraecum humbertii (H.Perrier) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 11 (2013).
Description:
Plants generally 20 cm, tall, sub acaulis or with a short, thick stem, slightly compressed, 15-18 mm wide with the sheaths. Leaves distichous, always longer than the stem; sheaths short (12-15 mm), heavily striate-veined, limbus widely linear or shortly loriform (12-16 cm x 10-13 mm), often pleated marginally, coriaceous, densely striate-veined, very unequally bilobed apically, the lobes rounded, 1 longer than the other, 7-8 mm long. Inflorescences 2-3 per node, not longer than the axillary sheaths, robust. slightly longer than the leaves and with 4-5 flowers, large for the section with the divisions tipped with a long filiform acumin; peduncle 7-9 cm long, with 2-3 internodes, covered entirely at its bane by the sheaths, the others longer, provided with a 12-16 mm long sheath, emarginate marginally, free and very acute, taller, covering generally a third to a quarter the length of the internode; bracts scarious-brown, very acute, large, embracing the rachis, 12-14 mm long; flowers greenish-white with the labellum pure white; pedicel 4.5 cm long. Sepals 6 veined, longly attenuate-filiform from the base to the apex, the median 5 cm long and 5 mm wide, the laterals larger (7 cm x 7 mm). Petals of the same form as the sepals, but smaller (4.4 cm x 4 mm) and 5 veined. Labellum 5 cm long (including a 3 cm long acumin), very concave, conch shaped, adjoining the spur oriface and 18-20 mm wide (flat) in the lower third, apical acumin filiform, veins very numerous (20 or more), the laterals obliquely branching toward the outer edges; spur 13-14 cm long, with the oriface very wide (7 mm), very rapidly narrowing below and filiform. Column 4 mm tall, wide, auricles large, thin, very rounded, without a median tooth to the rostellum. Anther not known.
Habitat:
This lithophytic orchid is found on rocks in dry forest and scrub on the western slopes of mountains in central and southern parts of the island. Plants grow at about 2600 ft. (800 m) and are reportedly prevalent to the south of Mahamavo. Flowering in January-February.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum humbertii H.Perrier,
Distribution:
SW. Madagascar
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, and J. and 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. Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. Kew Data Base. 2007. http.//apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do Stewart, J., J. Hermans, and B. Campbell. 2006, Angraecoid Orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Yearron, S. H. Nov. 17, 1999; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 24.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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In culture

Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission.