Angraecum chamaeanthus Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 604 (1915).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Lesliegraecum chamaeanthus (Schltr.) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 17 (2013).
Description:
Very small epiphytic herb; stem 1–4 mm long; roots less than 1 mm in diameter. Leaves 2–4, 10–18 × 1.3–3 mm, oblong to elliptic, obtuse. Inflorescences 1–3 cm long, 4–10-flowered, the flowers somewhat secund. Flowers white. Pedicel and ovary 1–2 mm long; bracts c. 0.5 mm long. Sepals and petals 1.3–2.2 × 0.7–1.2 mm, ovate, rounded, the lateral sepals slightly longer than the dorsal sepal and petals. Lip 1.2–1.5 × 0.9–1.3 mm, broadly ovate, the apex rounded; spur 0.8–1.4 mm long, conical, rounded at apex. Column 0.3 mm long.
Cultivation:
Not easy because of its small size. Shade and high humidity are essential, and it is probably better mounted. Intermediate to cool temperatures.
Habitat:
Montane and submontane forest, 1400-2300 m (4600-7600 ft.), where it grows on the smallest twigs.
Notes:
This is one of the smallest of all African orchids.
Distribution:
Malawi, Mozambique ,Zimbabwe, Kenya; South Africa; Tanzania.
References:
AOS Bulletin Vol 49 No 6 1980 photo; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982; Malawi Orchids La Croix 1983; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 2 Pope 1998; Orchids of Kenya Stewart 1996; Cultivated Angraecoid Orchids Of Madagascar Hillerman & Holst 1986; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans, Campbell 2006; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008; La Croix, I. et al. (1983). Malawi Orchids Volume 1 Epiphytic Orchids National Fauna Preservation Society of Malawi Pages 29 – 30; La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 237; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 25.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture |
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| Photograph©Olaf Pronk. Image used with kind permission. |
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph© Lourens Grobler. 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. | Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
