Angraecum bicallosum H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 7: 111 (1938).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Perrierangraecum bicallosum (H.Perrier) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 19 (2013).
Description:
Plants with smooth roots, stem slightly compressed, to 14 cm tall and 4 mm in diameter; sheaths short (4-5 mm), traversely rugose. Leaves short, widely elliptical (1.5-2.5 cm x 8-11 mm), deeply bilobed-obtuse apically, shortly pleated-contracted basally. Inflorescence single flowered, from the axillary sheaths peduncle very short (6 mm), entirely covered by the 3-4 sheaths, with the superior. Pleated carinate and greenish to l cm long and longer than the peduncle; bracts green, pleated-carinate 1.4 cm long, obtuse, covering three-quarters of the pedicel; flowers large, sepals, petals and spur reddish-brown, labellum very white, accompanied by a linear bracteole, a vestige of a second aborted flower. Sepals lanceolate (3 cm x 6 mm) attenuate from the base to the acute apex, provided with a dorsal, external costule, longer than the total length of the peduncle and pedicel together. Petals as in the sepals, but narrower, 4 mm wide basally Labellum widely oval (3 x 1.5 cm), sub acuminate-acute, nearly flat, provided above, over the total base, from each edge of the spar oriface, with a callus, obtuse and projecting; spur cylindrical, 12 cm. long, attenuate from the wide oriface (3 mm) to the apex. Anther (3.5 mm) slightly thicker apically, very deeply notched in front, the sides of the notch forming 2 obtuse lobules; pollina round, appearing sessile medially to the bandeletts, bandeletts 2, distinct, elongated, narrow, and hyaline. Column wider (4 mm) than tall, auricles slightly developed obtuse, median tongue of the rostellum lineal and l mm long. Pedicel 2 cm long, twisted and non winged.
Natural habitat.
Angraecum bicallosum is an epiphyte which grows on tree trunks in moss forest on Montagne d'Ambre (Amber Mountain) in northern Madagascar at an altitude of around 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). It is indigenous to the island. Is flowering in November.
Cultivation:
Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum bicallosum H.Perrier,
Notes:
This is a stunning, superb species, with large star-shaped flowers on plants that are actually quite small—certainly never outgrowing a 4-inch pot or a 4 x 10 inch slab. Once the germination secrets are learned and seedlings are available, there will be no reason for it not to be found in all good collections
Distribution:
N. & EC. 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. Hillerman, F. and A. Holst. 1986. An introduction to the cultivated Angraecoid orchids of Madagascar. Timber Press, Portland, Ore. Stewart, J., J. Hermans, and B. Campbell. 2006, Angraecoid Orchids. Timber Press, Portland, OR.; 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 |
 |
 |
| Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
