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Angraecum stella-africae P.J.Cribb in I.F.la Croix & al., Malawi Orchids 1: 34 (1983).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Perrierangraecum stella-africae (P.J.Cribb) Szlach., Mytnik & Grochocka, Biodivers. Res. Conservation 29: 20 (2013).
Description:
Dwarf, epiphytic herb; stem 1–2 cm long; roots 2–3 mm in diameter, pale grey, slightly verrucose.Leaves up to 6 but usually 3–4, distichous, dark green, 3–5.5 cm × 6–8 mm, linear, coriaceous, obscurely 2-lobed at the apex.Inflorescences 1–2, arising below the leaves, 1-flowered. Peduncle 3–4 mm long; bract 4 mm long, ovate.Pedicel and ovary 20 mm long, the ovary winged, triangular in cross-section.Flowers large for size of plant, glistening white, the tip of the spur green.Sepals 20–25 × 5 mm, lanceolate, acute, spreading; petals similar but smaller, 18–20 × 3 mm.Lip 22–26 × 13–15 mm, ovate, elliptic, concave, subacute; spur 12–15 cm long, very slender, sigmoid or coiled in bud, becoming straight and pendent.Column stout, 2–3 mm long.Capsule c. 2.5 cm long, winged, remaining on the plant for over a year before dehiscing.
Habitat:
Woodland, rarely riverine forest 1250–1500 m.
Cultivation:
Does better mounted on bark, where the spur can hang freely. It likes moderate shade, and a drier period in winter, cool growing epiphyte.
Notes:
This species seems to be self-pollinating because although the flowers quite often fail to open the capsules apparently develop normally.
Distribution:
Malawi, South Africa (Mpumulanga).
References:
Malawi Orchids La Croix 1983; African Orchids in the Wild and in Cultivation La Croix 1997; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 2 Pope 1998; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans and Campbell 2006; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 28.01-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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In culture	In culture	Habitat/In situ
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph©Bart Wursten. Image used with kind permission.