Angraecum didieri (Baill. ex Finet) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 433 (1915).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Macroplectrum didieri Baill. ex Finet, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 9: 28 (1907).
Perrierangraecum didieri (Baill. ex Finet) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 19 (2013).
Description:
Plants 12-15 cm stem cylindrical (6-7 mm in diameter); roots verrucose; sheaths striate-veined and traversely rugose; leaves 5-7 loriform, short (17-42 x 6-10 mm), slightly unequally bilobed-obtuse apically. Inflorescence from in the sheaths; peduncle very short (2-4 mm), nearly wider than long entirely covered by the 2-3 sheaths, large and obtuse, the superior covering the base of the bract; bract obtuse and large equaling about a third the length of the pedicel; flowers white, often accompanied by a second rudimentary bud. Sepals attenuate from the base to the apex (22-35 x 5-7 mm), the laterals slightly narrower than the median and auriculate basally to the front. Petals similar, slightly narrower. Labellum sessile, elliptical or oval-oblong (23-32 x 12-15 mm), shortly cuspidate-acute apically, very concave-navicular, without keels and very numerous veins not separated into 3 fascicles basally; spur oriface narrow, attenuate toward the acute apex and 8-15cm. long. Column much wider than long, auricles 2 mm tall and 3 mm wide rounded on the upper edge: median tongue of the rostellum acicular. Anther provided above with an obtuse, conical apicule and in front with a bilobulate-acute rostrum; cauda 2, hyaline and loriform (3 x 0.6 mm). Pedicel 15-20 mm long 3 winged and 3 angled.
Habitat:
This epiphytic orchid is found in eastern and central Madagascar where it grows in moist forests at 1950-4900 ft. (600-1500 m) in areas with cool, fairly dry winters. Collections have been reported from near Talatakely, which is about 19 mi. (30 km) from Antananarivo. In Madagascar it flowers between October and January.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum didieri (Baill. ex Finet) Schltr.
Notes:
Angraecum didieri is a "must" for the grower with limited space. The entire (aboveroots) vegetative portion of an old plant measures only 15 cm tall and wide, and a well-grown plant will produce 5—6 flowers, usually in April in our clime. This is a truly delightful little species.
Distribution:
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, 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. Yearron, S. H. Nov. 17, 1999.; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 22.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | 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. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
| Habitat/ In situ |
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| Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
