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Angraecum calceolus Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: t. 77 (1822).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Aerobion calceolus (Thouars) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 717 (1826).
Aeranthes calceola (Thouars) S.Moore in J.G.Baker, Fl. Mauritius: 353 (1877).
Epidorkis calceolus (Thouars) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 660 (1891).
Mystacidium calceolus (Thouars) Cordem., Fl. Réunion: 220 (1895).
Macroplectrum calceolus (Thouars) Finet, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 9: 31 (1907).
Gomphocentrum calceolus (Thouars) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 14 (2013).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum carpophorum Thouars, Hist. Orchid.: 76 (1822).
Epidorkis carpophora (Thouars) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 660 (1891).
Mystacidium carpophorum (Thouars) Cordem., Fl. Réunion: 221 (1895).
Angraecum anocentrum Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 26: 342 (1899).
Angraecum laggiarae Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 15: 337 (1918).
Angraecum rhopaloceras Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 338 (1925).
Angraecum guillauminii H.Perrier, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., sér. 2, 22: 114 (1950).
Gomphocentrum guillauminii (H.Perrier) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 14 (2013).
Gomphocentrum laggiarae (Schltr.) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 14 (2013).
Description:
Erect epiphytic herb with a woody stem to 9 cm long. Roots numerous, c. 1.5 mm in diameter. Leaves up to 16, 17–22 × 1.5–2.5 cm, ligulate, narrowing to a petiole-like base, and very unequally 2-lobed at the apex with one lobe almost absent, the other c. 6 mm long and obtuse. Young leaf sheaths sometimes with dark spots. Inflorescences 15–24 cm long, up to 5-branched, each branch several-flowered. Flowers pale yellow-green, thin-textured. Pedicel and ovary 5–6 mm long; bracts 2 mm long. Dorsal sepal 7–8 × 2–4 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate; lateral sepal's 8 × 1.5 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, and rather oblique. Petals 6 × 1.5–3 mm, lanceolate, acuminate. Lip 7 × 3 mm, including an acumen 2 mm long, very concave, ovate, acuminate; spur 12 mm long, slender, slightly swollen near apex, often ascending. Column very short.
Natural habitat:
Angraecum calceolus comes as close to being ubiquitous as any Madagascan orchid species. It grows epiphytically in forests at elevations from 100—1,800 meters in areas of moderate rainfall. The species also grows in the Comoro, Mascarene, and Seychelles Islands. It is considered a fairly common orchid, and it flowers between November and February in its native state.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum calceolus Thouars,
Notes:
Angraecum calceolus can hardly be described as a glamorous plant, but its grass- like growth habit and grass green leaves and roots are quite distinctive, and its small, greenish flowers are dainty and pretty, if not eye-catching. This species is recommended for its ease of culture and the small amount of greenhouse space that it occupies. The inflorescences develop over a period of many (6—8) months.
Distribution:
Mozambique, Comoro Islands, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Seychelles.
References:
Bechtel, H., P. Cribb, and E. Launert. 1980. Manual of cultivated orchid species. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. De la Bathie, H., and H. Humbert. [1939, 1941] 1981. Flora of Madagascar. vols. I-II. 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. 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. la Croix, Isobyl and Eric. 1997. African orchids in the wild and in cultivation. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR.; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 22.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Photos/drawings:
Bechtel, H., P. Cribb, and E. Launert. 1980. Manual of cultivated orchid species. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. (Color Photo) Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. (Color photo and drawings) la Croix, Isobyl and Eric. 1997. African orchids in the wild and in cultivation. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (Drawing) Pridgeon, A. ed. 1992. The illustrated encyclopedia of orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (Color photo)
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.

Habitat/ In situ	Habitat/ In situ	Habitat/ In situ	Habitat/ In situ
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.

In culture	In culture	In culture	In culture
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.