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Angraecum germinyanum Hook.f., Bot. Mag. 115: t. 7061 (1889).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Mystacidium germinyanum (Hook.f.) Rolfe, Orchid Rev. 12: 47 (1904).
Arachnangraecum germinyanum (Hook.f.) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 11 (2013).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum ramosum subsp. bidentatum H.Perrier, Fl. Madagasc. 49(2): 301 (1941).
Description:
An extremely variable, monopodial epiphyte to 100 cm. Pseudobulb, 30-100 cm long by 0.5-1.0 cm wide and 0.2-0.4 cm thick. In the type, growths can eventually reach a length of 100 cm long on very old plants. The stems are usually long, many branched, somewhat flattened, and covered with green leaf sheaths until they are very old. The stems on the branches are usually somewhat shorter than those on the primary stem. Stems are usually erect, but some indicate that some varieties can become pendent about (20 cm) from the base. The relatively fine roots are white to grayish white,0.1-0.3 cm in diameter, and produced to within 10-15 cm of the top of the stem in most varieties. Some varieties, however, produce roots only at the base of the stem. Leaves: 3-4 cm long by 1.5-1.8 cm wide. This is the length on the typical species, but leaves can reach a length of up to 7 cm on some of the varieties. Up to 40 leaves alternate along the stem in two rows. Leaves are usually rather widely spread and held at almost a 90 angle to the stem, but in some varieties, they are held almost parallel to the stem. Leaves range from glossy green to dull green in color, and from bluntly and evenly bilobed at the tip to only slightly bilobed. Inflorescence: 1-2 cm long. The short peduncle emerges at the base of older leaves somewhat below the top of the stem. Flowers are carried on pedicels that are up to 3 cm long. Flowers, each inflorescence carries a single blossom, but several inflorescences may emerge at the same time. Flowers, which are held with the lip uppermost, are up to 12 cm tall from the apex of the lip to the tips of the pendent sepals and petals. Sepals and petals are yellowish amber, with some clones more distinctly amber-colored than others. The lip is white but sometimes it is slightly amber toward the middle. The spur is white at the base but gradually shades to amber toward the apex. The long, sharply pointed, rather threadlike sepals and petals are 7-10 cm long by 0.3-0.4 cm wide at the base. They all dangle in pendent positions. and they are usually quite twisted. The somewhat smaller petals normally cross each other a short distance from the base. The relatively round main lobe of the upright lip is 1.7-2.3 cm long and wide, but there is a slender, threadlike projection in the center of the apical margin that is about 2 cm long and curves downward to become pendent toward the its tip. The spur is up to 13 cm long in the typical species but varies from 11-14 cm in some of the varieties.
Habitat:
Plants originate on the central plateau region, which has an average elevation of 2950-4900 ft. (900-1500 m). Specific habitat elevation was not reported for this species. Pridgeon (1992) reports that Angraecum germinyanum grows on very humid, cloud-covered slopes. Some writers also include the Comoro Islands in the range of distribution for Angraecum germinyanum, but Hillerman and Holst (1986) indicate that it is found only on Madagascar.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum germinyanum Hook.f.
Distribution:
Comoros, Réunion
References:
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. Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Photos/drawings:
Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. (Color Photo) Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (Color Photo); WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 24.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture
Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph ©Leo Klemm. Image used with kind permission.

Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph© Etienne Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne Vennetier Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Etienne Vennetier Image used with kind permission.