Jumellea rigida Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 301 (1925).
Description:
Plants caulescent. stiff, to 60 cm. tall; stem 7 mm. in diameter, densely leafy; leaves lingulate-loriform (8-12 cm. x 12-16 mm.). Inflorescences 7-8 cm. long; peduncle 2-2.5 cm., covered basally with 3 sheaths more than 8 mm. long; bracts 10-12 mm. long, tubular, scarious, thin, obtuse and loose, about a quarter the length of the pedicel; flowers white, from start to finish. Sepals oblong-lingulate, 2 cm. long, subobtuse. Petals Iinear-lingulate, obtuse, shorter (17 mm.) and thinner than the sepals. Labellum (20 x 7 mm. in the apical third), unguiculate-narrowed basally, then dilate in an elliptical-acuminate, subobtuse lamina, without any visible viens, provided above with a fine keel; spur pendent, then curved-sigmoidal in front, 9-10cm. long. Column 4 mm. tall: auricles with their superior angles acute. Anther excised in front and indented medially. Pedicel thin. 4.5-6.5 cm. long.
Habitat:
Jumellea rigida grows at the top of almost bare granite outcrops, and receives hill sunlight with great amounts of reflected heat from the granite surface. The roots reach into small mounds of humus and into the crevices in the rocks. However, even in surroundings dominated by bare rock and scrub growth, it is very likely that its roots find water. On Mt. Antongona (during the rainy season) where the authors found it growing, water could be seen seeping out here and there from among the rocks. This species is also known to come from Mt. Angavokely, at around 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in altitude, in central Madagascar, where it flowers in December and January. It is endemic on the island.
Cultivation:
This species is very adaptable, but does best under intermediate conditions. As can be deduced from its natural habitat, it requires very high light in order to flower well. It is happy in a 5- or 6-inch pot in medium fir bark mix. In many parts of this country, it can be moved outside into full sun (except on extremely hot days) after the winter season.
Notes:
This typical jumellea is not very free-flowering, but plenty of light will induce it to bloom with some regularity. It is very durable and tough, and is easy to propagate by basal divisions. In the northern hemisphere it flowers in May and June.
Distribution:
Madagascar.
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1938/85; Angraecoid Orchids Stewart, Hermans & Campbell 2006; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; WCSP (2017). 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. 19.02-2017; http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Images:
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| In culture | In culture | In culture | In culture |
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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. |
