Angraecum section Arachnangraecum Schltr., Fedde, Repert. Sp. Nov. Beih. 33: 309 (1925).
Lectotype:
(in hoc loco electus): Angraecum arachnites Schltr.
Description:
Epiphytic on trunk, large plants (to 30 cm height); stems elongate, pendent, often with long internode (up to 5 cm); leaves alternate, coriaceous; inflorescences one-flowered, subterminal, longer than leaves, one to three per stem; flowers medium to large, sepals and petals tubular, arachniform, white green sometimes ocher; labellum uppermost, rather broad, more or less suborbicular in outline, concave, white, apex acuminate; spur elongate to 13 cm, sigmoid, greenish white, sometimes ocher, slightly large at the base, tapering towards the tip; ovary round in section with 360° resupination.
Notes:
The plants referable to this section show a clear convergence with those of Section Angraecum, especially A. florulentum Rchb. f. and its related species. More ample material than is available to me may possibly show that A. florulentum Rchb. f., A. dendrobiopsis Schltr., and A. penzigianum Schltr. Should be transferred to this section. Schlechter has already pointed out the similarity between the plants of the genus Bonniera Cordem. and this section.
Type:
Angraecum ramosum Thou.
Distribution:
Comoros, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Mascarenes, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Species:
World Checklist of Monocotyledons.The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/monocots/ accessed 13/02/2017
