Angraecum clareae Hermans, la Croix & P.J.Cribb, Orchid Rev. 109: 43 (2001).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Humblotiangraecum clareae (Hermans, la Croix & P.J.Cribb) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 15 (2013).
Description:
Plant erect or semi-pendulous, stems simple or with side growths emerging from the base, 7-8 cm long, 4-5 mm in diameter; roots slender, glabrous. Leaves 10-20, spreading, ensiform, conduplicate, fleshy-succulent, triangular in cross section, glaucous, greyish green, 25-38 mm long, 9-12 mm wide. Inflorescences often 2, each 1- or 2-flowered, sometimes with an additional, undeveloped terminal bud; peduncle fleshly, rounded and short, 5-10 mm 1ong, the basal part naked but partly concealed by one tubular sheath 5-6 mm long; bract 3-5 mm long; pedicel flattened and winged, ovary triangular, in total pedicellate ovary ca. 45-55 mm long. Flowers sparkling white, tip of spur and column green; sepals lanceolate, acute, keeled on the back, dorsal sepal 28-30 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, lateral sepals spreading, slightly falcate, 29-32 mm long, 4-5 mm wide; petals strongy reflexed over the lateral sepals, lanceolate, acuminate, 22-30 mm 1ong, 3-6 mm wide; lip concave, obovate, rounded at the sides, the tip apiculate and reflexed,25-30 mm long, 15-19 mm wide, apiculus 8-10 mm long; spur funnel-shaped at the mouth, semi-erect behind the lip, then decurved and filiform, funnel 25 mm long, 6-7 mm wide with a central keel disappearing into the spur, 9-12 cm long.
Etymology:
Named for Clare Hermans.
Habitat:
Epiphyte in evergreen forest; flowering period in the wild not recorded.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cool growing epiphyte.
Notes:
Similar to Angraecum contpactum in some respects but always distinguished by the glaucous leaves and narrower tepals; illustrated in Hillerman and Holst (1986) as no. 80.
Distribution:
C. Madagascar
References:
Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 25.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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| In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture |
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| Photograph copyright Olaf Pronk. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
