Jumellea stenophylla (Frapp. ex Cordem.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 430 (1915).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum stenophyllum Frapp. ex Cordem., Fl. Réunion: 200 (1895).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Angraecum penicillatum Cordem., Rev. Gén. Bot. 6: 417 (1894).
Jumellea penicillata (Cordem.) Schltr., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 33(2): 430 (1915).
Jumellea gracilipes Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 18: 324 (1922).
Jumellea ambongensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 288 (1925).
Jumellea exilipes Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 293 (1925).
Jumellea imerinensis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 296 (1925).
Jumellea unguicularis Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 304 (1925).
Description:
Plants acaulis, 16-40 cm tall, leaves 5-7 variable in size (8-40 cm x 4-15 mm), lingulate, rigid and more or less pleated lengthwise. Inflorescences slightly shorter than the leaves or equal to them, 8-15 cm long; peduncle 2.5-5.5 cm long, always shorter than the pedicel, covered by sheaths in its lower half, the remainder bare; bracts tubular-obtuse, 9-12 mm long; flowers white. Sepals 22-23 mm long, linear-lanceolate, thick and sub obtuse. Petals linear-acute, longer than the sepals, but narrower. Labellum 22-23 x 7-8 mm) with the lower half hollowly gutter shaped, with a slightly projecting ked in this hollow, dilate apically and entirely attenuate or acuminate-acute (rhomboid-elliptical, rhomboid-oval and acute); spur filiform 11-15 cm long. Column 3.5-5 mm tall; auricles ax shaped, with the angles obtuse, the inferior larger than the superior; median tongues of the rostellum narrow, acicular, nearly as long as the auricles. Anther hemispherical, excised in front with a small, obtuse tooth in the sinus; retinacles oblique, triangular, often coalescent, the pollina (with their cauda retracted) inserted in the upper third. Pedicel 3.5-7 cm long.
Habitat:
Jumellea stenophylla grows epiphytically in moss forest at considerable elevations (1,400 to 2,000 meters, or 4,700 to 6,550 feet). It is endemic in the mountains of central Madagascar. Flowers between November and May.
Cultivation:
Culture of this species has been the typical culture for most jumelleas: potted in medium fir bark, medium light, and intermediate temperatures. This plant will seldom outgrow a 5-inch pot.
Notes:
Jumellea gracilipes is one of many, many jumelleas that have considerable assets such as charming, curved flowers that undergo color changes as they age. The flowers open greenish (greenish yellow toward the tips of the segments), slowly turn white, and then the last week turn almost apricot yellow. The lip maintains a pure white color. Merits other than the color changes are noticeable fragrance and a rather subdued growth habit. This species is a real delight and deserves a place in every greenhouse.
Distribution:
N. & C. Madagascar
References:
Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans & Campbell 2006 ;WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 19.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture | Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| 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. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph ©Gilles Grunenwald. Image used with kind permission. |
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph©Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission. | Photograph©Rogier van Vugt. Image used with kind permission. |
