Angraecum jeannineanum Fournel & Micheneau, Phytotaxa 222: 213 (2015).
Description:
Epiphytic; stem erect, 1–5 cm long, ± 5 mm in diameter. Roots smooth, greyish, ± 2 mm in diameter; distributed at the base of the plant. Leaves 3–6, distichous, fan-shaped; with a short sheath, 7–8 mm long; blade slightly coriaceous; margin entire, dark green above, lighter colour below; venation 4–6, visible on the abaxial surface; ligule, 0.8–1.0 × 3–8 cm, slightly contracted and folded along the midrib towards the base, otherwise flat, apex unequally bilobed. Inflorescence invaginated slightly downward, 3–7 cm long, ± 3 mm in diameter; peduncle 1–2 cm long; 3–5 sheaths, infundibuliform, 4–10 mm long, imbricate, covering most of the base of the peduncle; sheaths above more distant, not covering the peduncle tip; axis 2–5 cm long, internodes thick; 1–5 flowered, 0.6–1.0 cm apart; bracteoles mostly oval, rounded tip, 6–9 mm long, sheathing the ovary almost completely. Flower pale green, margin white-cream. Perianth thin. Dorsal sepal ovate, 7–10 × 4.5–5.5 mm, keeled at the back, apex acute, curved. Lateral sepals resembling the dorsal sepal, slightly more oblique, 6.5–9.5 × 4.5–5.5 mm, tip curved downwards. Petals ovate to narrowly ovate, 6–9 × 3–4 mm, keeled at the back, tip acute, curved. Labellum bag-shaped, base rounded, 6–8 mm long × 4.5–5.5 mm deep, side edges rounded, lamina slightly marked, forming a curved tip. Column 2.5 mm high; lateral lobes slightly developed, rounded; rostellum medium tooth short, acicular. Anther semi-circular, 3 mm large, indented forward, with a small rounded keel at the back. Pollinia yellow, nearly quadrate, 1 mm long; stipe formed as a membranous piece, tubular, 0.9 mm large; viscidium under the stipe, of similar shape, as a unique piece. Ovary pale green, cylindrical, 6–7 mm long, ± 3 mm in diameter, 6-ribbed. Capsule ovoid, 1.2 × 1 cm.
Etymology:
Because this new species is sympatric with and closely related to A. cadetii, we decided to name it after Mrs. Jeannine Cadet, the wife of the late Thérésien Cadet, an eminent botanist and ecologist from Réunion. Mrs. Cadet is a skilful botanical artist, who shared a passion for native plants with her husband, and dedicated a large part of her art to the orchid family. Part of Jeannine's orchid illustrations were published in a book (Cadet 1989), which included the recently described A. cadetii.
Habitat:
Angraecum jeannineanum occurs between 500–690 m elev. The soil in this region is ferralitic and formed from volcanic rocks (Willaime 1984), and located in the humid to super-humid zones of Mauritius, receiving annual rainfall between 2,000 mm and 3,000 mm.
Phenology:
Flowering in February to April; fruiting: April to May.
Notes:
Plant epiphytic, of the section Hadrangis Schltr., close to Angraecum cadetii Bosser, with a bag-shaped labellum but differing by its smaller and thicker dark green leaves, with both thinner and smaller inflorescences and flowers, the latter being clearly non-fleshy, and more greenish in colour.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
Mauritius
References:
A new critically endangered species of Angraecum (Orchidaceae) endemic to the island of Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Phytotaxa 222 (3): 211–22,2015; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 25.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
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